Скачать или смотреть Berenson's mother condemns Peruvian judicial system

(10 May 2004)

1. Exterior of Inter-American Court of Human Rights
2. Organisation of American States flag
3. Exterior of court
4. Panel of Peruvian government representatives taking their seats
5. Various of plaintiff and respondent's tables and counsellors
6. Peruvian government representatives
7. Court room
8. Life prisoner Lori Berenson's father listening to translation
9. Legal representatives seated
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Berenson, Father:
"The other reparation that she asked for is a clear definition of terrorism, so that the whole world would know what that means. In Peru the word is thrown around like it is around the world, ever since 9/11 in the United States. But in Peru, Fujimori says everyone is a terrorist and now Toledo being tweaked by Fujimori, he has to be more macho to terrorism. He has to say everyone is a terrorist also."
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rhoda Berenson, Mother:
"Many of the police procedures would not be considered acceptable in most countries, in the way that the take the evidence, and it should never be used."
12. UPSOUND (Spanish) Jorge Villegas, Peruvian Representative:
"We are not going to make any comments."
13. Villegas stepping away from journalists

STORYLINE:

The mother of a native New Yorker serving a 20-year prison sentence for collaborating with Peruvian terrorists blasted Peru's judicial system as inept saying that many of the Peruvian polices' procedures would not be considered acceptable in most countries of the world.

Rhoda Berenson has testified before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which is based in the Costa Rican capital, as part of an effort to convince its judges to overturn the sentence against her 34-year-old daughter, Lori. If it rules there is sufficient evidence, the court has the power to order Peru to free her.

Berenson told the judges and a small number of onlookers about the day in November 1995 when the family received a call from the US Embassy in the Peruvian capital of Lima saying that President Alberto Fujimori had appeared on television and mentioned her daughter by name, saying she was collaborating with terrorists.

Lori Berenson was convicted by a secret military court in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison for being a leader of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and plotting a thwarted attack on Peru's Congress.

That decision was overturned in 2000. The following year she was convicted in a civilian court on the lesser charge of terrorist collaboration and sentenced to 20 years in prison, including time served.

Lori Berenson, who has more than a decade remaining on her sentence, denies the charges. Last year, she married Anibal Apari, 40, whom she met when both were serving time in a different prison.

Lori Berenson's mother's testimony was presented by the Washington-based Inter-American Human Rights Commission, which helps determine the Costa Rican human rights tribunal's schedule.

Rhoda Berenson said a videotape the commission presented to the court would show her daughter testifying from her prison cell in the Andean city of Cajamarca, 215 miles (345 kilometres) north of Lima.

She said it would show how much her daughter's health had deteriorated as a result of so much time behind bars.

The judges also listened to the testimony of Fausto Alvarado, who served as Peru's Secretary of Justice until February. Alvarado and the Peruvian government oppose the petition to overturn Berenson's sentence.

Testimony and final arguments concluded late on Friday. The court issues its decisions an average of six months after the hearings.


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