Peru Convicts American Of Treason Woman Gets Life Prison Sentence For Helping Leftist Guerrillas

A secret military court convicted an American woman of treason Thursday and sentenced her to the maximum possible under Peruvian law: life in prison without parole.

Lori Berenson, 26, was convicted of helping leftist guerrillas. The court ordered her sent to Yanamayo prison, a maximum-security penitentiary for convicted terrorists in the high, windy southern city of Puno.

The prosecution had asked for 30 years, but the court gave her the maximum sentence.

“We’re absolutely devastated,” her mother, Rhoda Berenson, said by telephone from New York.

Lori Berenson was tried as an alleged member of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, which though not considered a serious threat to the government, has bombed banks, kidnapped people and killed civilians.

Police claim Berenson coordinated some of the group’s activities and helped it obtain arms.

Her lawyers and family deny the charges. They also say Berenson can’t be tried for treason because she is not a Peruvian citizen.

Under Peruvian law, treason charges are reserved for top guerrilla leaders and those accused of taking part in armed actions - allegations not made against Berenson.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Glyn Davies called upon the Peruvian government “to take the necessary steps in the appeals process to accord Ms. Berenson an open judicial proceeding in a civilian court.”