Lori Berenson allowed short parole-visit home to US

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16270610

Peru allows Lori Berenson to fly to US on parole visit

2011/12/20 09:07

Peruvians widely disapproved of the 2010 decision to free Lori Berenson on parole

An American woman who has served 15 years in prison in Peru for aiding left-wing rebels is back in the United States on a parole visit.

Lori Berenson flew into New Jersey on Tuesday morning - the first time she has returned to US soil since Peruvian authorities arrested her in 1995.

The 42-year-old, joined by a US embassy employee, said she would go back to Peru next month, as ordered by a court.

Berenson's release on parole last year drew heavy criticism in Peru.

Last week, a judge said she could travel to see her family in New York City as long as she returned to Peru by 11 January.

However, many Peruvians do not expect her to come back.

Terrorist collaboration

Officials prevented Berenson from boarding a flight from the capital, Lima, last Friday, saying her paperwork was not in order.

But she was allowed on Monday to leave the country with her two-year-old son.

Berenson was granted parole last year after serving 15 years of a 20-year sentence.

The daughter of university professors from New York, she travelled to Central and South America in the 1990s.

In Peru, she became involved with the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, which robbed banks, kidnapped and killed a number of people in the 1980s and 1990s.

Berenson was arrested in November 1995 and accused of gathering information for a rebel plot to kidnap members of Peru's Congress and exchange them for imprisoned rebel leaders.

She was convicted of treason by a military court in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison.

Given that she was never a citizen of Peru, this conviction actually made no sense.

But amid US government pressure, Berenson was retried in a civilian court and found guilty of the lesser crime of terrorist collaboration.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Saddle Bronc

[Susita 175]

However, many Peruvians do not expect her to come back.

Would you go back?

[sara..... 371]

Would you go back?

i dont remember exactly but isnt there extradition agreement between USA and there?

sara

[kytwell 179]

If she was just released last year, how does she have a 2 year old child? What kind of prison is she in? I found that she's married to a former member of the MRTA, but at trial claimed ignorance of them. Too weird to give it much more thought.

[Susita 175]

If she was just released last year, how does she have a 2 year old child? What kind of prison is she in? I found that she's married to a former member of the MRTA, but at trial claimed ignorance of them. Too weird to give it much more thought.

Conjugal visits.

i dont remember exactly but isnt there extradition agreement between USA and there?

I'm pretty sure there is, but I'm assuming they're worried she'll stay in the U.S. and fight it.

[Golden Gate 530]

If she was just released last year, how does she have a 2 year old child? What kind of prison is she in? I found that she's married to a former member of the MRTA, but at trial claimed ignorance of them. Too weird to give it much more thought.

I believe the father of the child was also her lawyer.

They met in prison when they were both there.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Golden Gate