MASSACHUSETTS HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZES "FAST TO FREE LORI"
Abby Russell, vice president of the Amnesty International chapter at
Norwell High School in Norwell, Massachusetts reports that over 40
students, staff, and faculty will begin a 24-hour fast on Thursday,
February 3rd at 5 p.m. in support of Lori's release. Participants will wear
tee-shirts that have Lori's picture and which say "Fasting for Lori
Berenson." The participants have made a large "Free Lori" banner on which
they hope to collect over 500 signatures. They intend to send the signed
banner to President Clinton.
RHODA RETURNS TO PERU
Anxious to see how Lori has withstood her two-week hunger protest that was
done in an already impaired physical state, Rhoda will be visiting Lori on
Saturday. The last report given to us by U.S. Embassy officials a week
ago, following the termination of the protest, said that Peruvian doctors
had reported Lori was weakened but in good condition. The last family
visit was on January 9th. Under Peruvian law visits are suspended during
hunger strikes. In a letter just received, Lori has requested bagels,
farmer cheese, and a variety of vitamins.
PERU USES TWO U.S. LOBBYING FIRMS TO PROMOTE ITS TARNISHED IMAGE
"Only in America," a phrase often used by boxing promoter Don King, takes
on new connotations in Lori's situation. Two U.S. lobbying firms, Patton
Boggs and SSK (Shepardson - Stern - Kaminsky), have been hired by the
government of Peru to promote its tarnished image in the U.S. and to
persuade Congress to continue giving it the huge sums of financial aid that
last year was among the highest in the Western Hemisphere on a per-capita
basis. Part of this "promotion of Peru" by the two U.S. firms is, of
course, at the expense of fellow U.S. citizen Lori Berenson.
LORI'S LAWYERS RESUBMIT REQUEST FOR FULL HEARING BEFORE COMMISSION
The Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American
States is preparing for its spring meetings in Washington. Over a year
ago, that body ruled that Lori's petition against the government of Peru
was admissible for full hearing. Unfortunately, the government of Peru
unnecessarily stalled on our first attempt to hold the hearing last spring
and then the government of Peru illegally withdrew from the jurisdiction of
the Inter-American Human Rights Court of the Organization of American
States, thwarting our second attempt to hold the hearing last fall. Lori's
lawyers once again have resubmitted the request for full hearings. We
don't know whether the Commission will act to hold a full hearing without
the Peruvian government's presence, or whether the Peruvian government will
decide to participate if such a hearing is put on the docket, but we will
continue to press to have a hearing in this international forum. In the
interim she remains wrongfully incarcerated.
Rhoda and Mark B.
Committee to Free Lori Berenson
http://www.freelori.org
National Office Telephone: 202.548.8480