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Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 7, No. 0012. Saturday, 6 January 1996.

From:           Bernice W. Kliman <KLIMANB@SNYFARVA.CC.FARMINGDALE.EDU>
Date:           Thursday, 14 Dec 1995 11:22:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:        Humanitarian Assistance Requested

Dear List members

This has nothing to do with our LIST, but I urge you to help Lori Helene
Berenson, a 26-year old freelance journalist who has been following human
rights issues in Peru.

Since 30 November, she has been held in prison there, facing charges of
terroism, which she calls "preposterous."

Her mother, a friend and colleague, is a professor of physics at Nassau
Community College; her father is a professor of statistics at Baruch College.
At this moment, they are both in Peru, where Lori is being held without formal
charges, without legal aid, and in solitary confinement, undergoing
"questioning."

Please contact members of congress, the state department, and anyone else you
can think of. Circulate petitions that urge the person petitioned to take an
ACTIVE role to free Lori Berenson.  Make phone calls and send faxes. In New
York State, you could contact Senators Moynihan (FAX 212-564-5066) and D'Amato
(FAX 202-224-5871).

Thank you for your help.

Bernice W. Kliman
516-671-1301 (phone)
516-572-8134 (fax)
KlimanB@SNYFARVA.bitnet

[Editor's Note: Bernice has also informed me of the following:

The NYT had a piece about Lori in today's paper, with the title "Peru
Criticized on New Yorker's Trial."  Not only is Lori Berenson presumed guilty
until she can prove her innocence.  She is given no opportunity to prove her
innocence.  The case should be turned over from the military court, where Lori
is judged by hooded men without experience with the law, without being able o
gather evidence in her favor, to the civilian court, the Common Court, as they
call it.

The situation is dire.  She was kept in solitary for over a month, interrogated
repeatedly, and now is facing incarceration in a rural prison where her
parents, if they can make their way there, will be able to see her only once a
month for 1/2 hour.

The military confiscated the tapes Lori was taking of indigenous music. She is
a student of anthropology and studies stories and music.  She has traveled
widely all over South America collecting these materials.

So please do whatever you can.  Currently, Lori's parents are asking that
people write the President: e-mail president@whitehouse.gov or phone him at
202-456-1414

Contact Assistant Secretary of State Alexander Watson
phone 202-647-5780
FAX 202-647-0791

Call your own rep in Congress. You can reach these peope through the
Congressional switchboard, 202-225-3121. Call Senators at 202-224-3121.]

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