South American Community not to compete with OAS.

[bemildred]

Of course not, what a silly idea.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros said on Saturday that the future South American Community of Nations will neither seek to minimize nor compete with the Organization of American States (OAS) because the two are complementary.

"A more united and homogeneous South America will allow the OAS to act with greater efficiency," the Peruvian minister said.

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Rodriguez Cuadros explained that the South American Community will be dedicated not only to economic, political and infrastructure integration, but will also be a factor in achieving more balanced hemispheric relations.

The chief of Peru's diplomatic mission said that together the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Central American Common Market and the new South American Community of Nations will facilitate action on a pan-Latin American level.

MercoPress

[Downtown Hound]

1. Is this why they decided to keep Lori Berenson

in her jail cell for another 11 years? They didn't want to damage the new era of cooperation? Wouldn't surprise me.

[bemildred]

2. That seems to be a different issue.

But here it is, just for you:

Inter-American Court Confirms Berenson Terrorist Conviction

LIMA, Peru -- The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has upheld the 20-year sentence of Lori Berenson, a New Yorker convicted in Peru of terrorist collaboration with Marxist guerrillas in a thwarted conspiracy to seize Peru's Congress. A 124-page ruling, posted late Thursday on the Costa Rica-based court's Web page, dashed the last avenue of appeal for Berenson, 35, who faces 11 more years behind bars. She is scheduled for release in November 2015, a few weeks after her 46th birthday.

The court, the legal arm of the Organization of American States, rejected Berenson's arguments that Peru violated her rights in a 2001 civilian retrial. She denies any wrongdoing and maintains she is a political prisoner whose concern for social justice was distorted by authorities to look like a terrorist agenda.

"Fortunately, the intelligence, balance and experience of the court judges have ratified the sentence," President Alejandro Toledo said hours before the official ruling was made public. "It is undoubtedly a great satisfaction and tranquility for Peruvian justice and all Peruvians."

WNBC

[Downtown Hound]

3. Actually it's not a different issue

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights that ruled on Lori's case is a branch of the OAS. The OAS ruled unanimously two years ago that Lori's 2001 trial violated her civil rights and did not meet standards of fairness and due process. The procedure was that it then passed to the Inter-American Court, which would make the final ruling. Everyone, including Peru, expected the ruling to be in Lori's favor. Their decision to rule against her came as a complete shock. This was the first time in the court's history that it had overruled the ruling of the OAS.

In the late 90's when dictator Fujimori was still running the country, the Court ruled in favor of four Chileans convicted by the same kangaroo court system that convicted Lori. Fujimori's response was to withdraw from the court's jurisdiction.When Fujimori was driven from power, they rejoined the court. Now there is all this talk of cooperation and economic development going on. No one wants to jeopardize that. A ruling in favor of Lori would have forced Peru to take a defiant stance against the court and caused problems. High-ranking Peruvian officials said in the days leading up to the decision that they would defy any ruling to release Lori. So the court caved in. Politics wins out int the end.

[bemildred]

4. So anything that happens south of the border is about Lori Berenson?

I thought the story was about this new economic block. But it had a
Peruvian guy in it, so I guess in you mind that makes it about Lori?

[Downtown Hound]

5. No, not everything

I'm just speculating on what the court's motivation for their ruling was. And I think that this has a lot to do with it.

[bemildred]

6. Speculate away. nt