Lori Has Baby Boy
Despite the odds she faced owing to compromised health after 13.5 years of incarceration in harsh Peruvian prison environments, Lori gave birth Wednesday morning May 6th in Lima. Salvador Anesporí Apari Berenson was delivered via Caesarian-section due to Lori's precarious back condition that will require delicate spinal surgery to prevent permanent nerve damage. Surgery will be scheduled after she recovers from childbirth.
Call President Obama and Write to Secretary of State Clinton
Now that President Obama has settled into office, it is time for us to put a concerted effort into enlisting his help in securing Lori's release.
Lori has now served 13 years and 5 months of her 20-year sentence. She has been a model prisoner and she is eligible for conditional liberty in November 2010. However, given the precarious nature of her health and the forthcoming birth of her baby, we will be urging President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to secure Lori's immediate release.
Lori's end of year message
My Pregnancy is a Blessing for Me
As 2008 and my 13th year in prison come to a close, here I am awaiting my transfer to the maximum security women’s jail in Chorrillos, Lima.
It is indeed sad for me to be leaving Cajamarca after 7 years of beautiful scenery, fresh air and a hospitable community attitude that still prevails to some extent, in spite of the damage done to the "atmosphere" of increased wealth, unaccompanied by local development, due to the presence of giant mining companies.
End of year message from Rhoda and Mark
Another year has elapsed and Lori is now in her 14th year of wrongful incarceration. Despite this, and the global economic crisis that affects us all, there is some good news to report.
Lori informed us in mid September that she is pregnant. She was so elated - and we, of course, were thrilled over news we never anticipated hearing. Lori has always loved children and, at age 39, this is her first pregnancy. For the past three months she has been busy reading about pregnancy, childbirth and childcare. We are now excitedly busy knitting - Mark a blanket, Rhoda a matching sweater, cap and booties.
Lori Berenson is a US citizen currently being held as a political prisoner in Lima, Perú. After serving nearly five years in harsh Peruvian jails high in the Andes, her conviction for treason against Perú and her life sentence were overturned. In June 2001 she was cleared of terrorism-related charges but convicted of collaboration, and sentenced to twenty years in prison in a trial that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights claims completely violated her rights.