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Socialist Action received the following letter from the parents
of Lori Berenson, who has been in prison in
Peru for 15 years, under arduous conditions, on charges of having aided
a guerrilla group. Our newspaper and organization is proud to have
played a part in the solidarity movement to obtain Lori’s freedom.
Dear Friends and Supporters of Lori,
On May 25, 2010 a Peruvian judge, after carefully studying
Lori’s application for what in Peru is termed “conditional liberty”
(parole), determined that Lori has earned her freedom. Lori and her son
Salvador will be leaving prison in a few
days and moving to an apartment in Lima.
Parole requires individuals to live within the city in which
they were incarcerated (Lima, in Lori’s
case)—we do not know if there are exceptions for foreigners or whether
Lori will be permitted to travel to the US while on
parole. Parole in Peru is based on
good behavior, work and study. In September 2009 Lori officially filed
her application under a Peruvian law which established eligibility
after serving 75% of her 20-sentence, less time off for work and study.
Lori appeared before the judge in court on Monday, May 17th,
for a hearing, defended by her husband, Anibal
Apari Sanchez, a Lima lawyer and candidate
for Mayor of Villa El Salvador, a suburb of Lima with over a half
million inhabitants. Lori will be a single mom—Anibal and Lori are legally separated but remain
friends and both share concerns for Salvador’s proper
upbringing.
Salvador, now an active
one-year old boy, will certainly enjoy the opportunity to run around
outside the confines of the prison. He is learning both English
and Spanish but babbles continuously in “unknown tongue.” He is a very
happy child and loves to be with people.
We want to express our gratitude to all of you for your
expressions of love and support all these years. You have truly
sustained us through some very dark hours and the dawn of a new sunny
day has arrived.
With appreciation, always.
Rhoda and Mark B.
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