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December 2, 2015

Lori Berenson Returning from Peru After Nearly 2 Decades In Prison 
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The once-imprisoned U.S. activist Lori Berenson is returning home from
Peru, where she was imprisoned for nearly two decades. She was released
on parole in 2010 but was barred from leaving Peru for good until her
sentence expired on Sunday. Berenson was convicted in 1996 of helping
the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement plan an assault on the Peruvian
Congress. Berenson was tried by a hooded military judge, and prosecutors
used secret evidence against her. Democracy Now! was the first to
interview Berenson and broadcast her voice to the public after she was
sentenced, and has long covered her case. Here's a excerpt of our
exclusive 1999 interview with Berenson in the Socabaya Prison in the
Andes mountains.

Amy Goodman: "Did they present any evidence at the trial?"

Lori Berenson: "No. In the actual trial? No, absolutely nothing."

Amy Goodman: "Are you innocent of the charges?"

Lori Berenson: "Yes, of the charges. Yes, I’m innocent of all the
charges they’ve made against me."

Amy Goodman: "Which brings us to the US and what the US is doing here
around your case, the US government. What is the US doing? Are they
helping?"

Lori Berenson: "There has been some pressure at certain times, but not
heavy pressure. Not heavy enough pressure, at least, because I’m still
here."

Amy Goodman: "Do you think if they did put pressure, you wouldn’t be
here? I mean, the US administration?"

Lori Berenson: "I mean, I think, in the sense of more than the Congress
in itself. I mean, all the military aid they give them and that kind of
support and the patting on the back of Fujimori every time that he does
anything. I think he feels like he’s fine."

 

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