The Honorable Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Madam Secretary,

Thank you for all of the important contributions you have made as Secretary
of State, most notably in the area of human rights. Because of your interest
in human rights issues, I would like to tell you about one very important
case of a U.S. citizen and human rights defender, Lori Berenson.

On November 30, 1995, Lori was arrested in Peru, charged with treason, and
sentenced to life in prison without parole. She was tried by a military
tribunal and sentenced by a hooded judge while a gun was held to her head by
a hooded soldier. The lack of due process and violations of international law
should be enough reason, after serving more than four years under extremely
harsh conditions, to secure her release.

In December 1998, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights in its Opinion 26/1998 stated that Lori
Berenson's liberty is being deprived arbitrarily and that the Peruvian
government is in violation of Articles 8, 9, and 10 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and of Articles 9 and 14 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which Peru is signatory.
Peru has not taken the necessary steps to remedy this situation.

180 Congressional members agreed to sign a letter to President Clinton urging
him to secure Lori's release in May 1999. In June 1999, 33 Senators sent you
a letter urging that you seek Lori Berenson's release on humanitarian grounds.

The U.S. Embassy in Peru has often maintained that they are working on Lori's
behalf to insure that she is treated humanely. However, at this time I
believe it is important to implore you to seek Lori's release, as the Peruvian
Government is not capable of offering humane conditions and neither can they
offer Lori a fair trial. The U.S. Department of State recently stated that
"Proceedings in these military courts--and those for terrorism in civilian
courts -- do not meet internationally accepted standards of openness,
fairness, and due process."

Therefore, I ask you to please do everything within your power to secure
Lori's release from prison where she sits, losing hope for justice.

Please let me know what actions you plan to take towards this end.

Sincerely,

___________________________________________

Name: _________________________________

Address: _________________________________

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