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U.S. weighing next step in Berenson case: Powell
AFP via The News (Mexico City) ^ | March 25, 2002

Posted on 03/24/2002 11:54:03 PM PST by sarcasm

SAN SALVADOR - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday that Washington may seek clemency for Lori Berenson, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Peru for terrorist ties, after an international rights panel reviews her case.

President George W. Bush raised the case "directly" with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo during a visit to Peru on Saturday, but did not "make a direct appeal" on her behalf, Powell told reporters as Bush traveled here.

"That wouldn't have been appropriate, because we're now waiting for the results of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights," which is looking at the case, he said.

"We really have to see that and see what they say about the process, and then we'll see what we might want to say at that point," said Powell, who did not rule out seeking a pardon for the 32-year-old New Yorker.

Under a June 2001 sentence, Berenson will linger in prison until November 29, 2015 for collaborating with leftist guerrillas from the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA).

The leftist group tried to take over Peru's Congress in November 1995 but is perhaps best known for seizing the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima in December 1996, taking more than 600 people hostage.

Berenson was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 by a military court, but that ruling was overturned in August 2000.

"The president brought it (the case) up directly with President Toledo, and we took note of the fact that the second trial, by our standards, followed the kind of due process we'd like to see," said Powell.

"The appellate process within Peru is finished, but there is an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that is reviewing the case," he said.

"And when they have completed their review and made their decisions known, or their recommendations known, perhaps that may offer an opportunity for President Toledo to examine the whole case and take another look at what might be possible," Powell told reporters.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: berenson; mrta; peru; terrorist; tupacamaru

1 posted on 03/24/2002 11:54:03 PM PST by sarcasm
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To: sarcasm
Now Bush wants clemency for a communist guerilla, next thing you know he'll be doing things like signing CFR
2 posted on 03/24/2002 11:56:22 PM PST by GeronL
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To: sarcasm
The appellate process within Peru is finished, but there is an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that is reviewing the case," he said.

Who the heck are they? When were they elected? And when do they start reviewing court cases in the USA?

3 posted on 03/25/2002 12:03:19 AM PST by Hugin
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To: GeronL
But isn't Bush just brilliant?? His support for a commie terrorist must confound and confuse the Democrats!! This is just a head fake!
4 posted on 03/25/2002 12:17:52 AM PST by ambrose
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To: GeronL
Sounds more like Powell was saying that if the rights organizations says her rights were somehow seriously violated or she was falsely accused, only then would the US take a second look at the case with Peru to review the other organization's claims... pretty much because we'd be obligated to do so if there was a cause for believing her arrest, incarceration and trial were improper.

Translation: if the rights commission finds nothing, and since we have no reason to think she was railroaded either, then we are going to let her get what she has coming.

Naturally the editor chose to put the more inflamatory comment there because it leads people into hinking the US is going to ask for clemency because it thinks she is innocent, when in fact the US isn't going to do diddly squat if no one else has any objections, so to speak. Even if someone has objections, we are merely going to take a second look at the objector's analysis to see if it holds water or not. If it doesn't, then there is no cause for the US to do anything, and Lori is out of luck.

This comment doen't make for a very exciting headline: "We really have to see that and see what they say about the process, and then we'll see what we might want to say at that point," said Powell, who did not rule out seeking a pardon for the 32-year-old New Yorker.

This is pol-speak for "we don't think she has a case but we will look at any evidence the rights organization might have to see if there is sufficient reason to change our minds that she is in fact a terrorist."

5 posted on 03/25/2002 12:18:41 AM PST by piasa
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To: Hugin
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
6 posted on 03/25/2002 12:20:22 AM PST by sarcasm
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To: sarcasm
Tried twice, the second time in a heavily scrutinized and publicized open trial, and convicted twice.

See ya in 2015 you commie.

7 posted on 03/25/2002 2:05:53 AM PST by Quila
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To: piasa
"This is pol-speak for "we don't think she has a case ..."

I think you're right, piasa, although I must admit that the headline was somewhat unnerving. But when I read the article, I realized it was just the wishful thinking of the press, once again revealing its adoration of left wing radicals and terrorists.

8 posted on 03/25/2002 2:16:42 AM PST by livius
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