[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 16944]]

                       ON BEHALF OF LORI BERENSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I call for action on behalf of Lori 
Berenson. Tomorrow, Peruvian President Fujimori will be inaugurated for 
another term and President Clinton will most likely congratulate him 
and wish him success. But what our President should be doing is raising 
the issue of Lori's release. And our diplomats should be working on it 
every minute of every day.
  This is an American citizen, Mr. Speaker--one of our own. As a result 
of a conviction by a secret military tribunal, Lori has toiled in a 
Peruvian jail for more than 4 years now, and has endured severe health 
effects as a result. Throughout this ordeal, Lori has maintained her 
absolute innocence. Numerous international human rights organizations, 
the United Nations, and the Organization of American States have all 
called for her release and pointed to widespread corruption in the 
Peruvian courts. But still, the United States has not taken the action 
necessary to obtain Lori's release.
  Mr. Speaker, our nation has an excellent working relationship with 
the government of Peru. We cooperate on a wide range of issues 
together. The release of Lori should be one of those issues that is 
important to our nation. This is the time we must use the influence 
we've gained in Peru. It is time that President Clinton demands Lori's 
release at the highest levels it is time this nation stands up for 
Lori--it is time for Lori Berenson to come home.

                          ____________________