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C O N G R E S S M A N John E. Peterson |
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Proudly
Serving |
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For Immediate Release –
March 8, 2006 |
Contact:
Chris Tucker – (202) 225-5121 |
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Peterson
asks Secretary Rice to press Chileans on case of missing PSU professor
Congressman joins Sens. Specter, Santorum in urging
further action on Boris Weisfeiler's disappearance
"The case of Boris Weisfeiler is a tragedy of the highest order, made
worse, in many ways, by a lack of meaningful information from or action by the
Chilean government," said Peterson. "With the inauguration of new Chilean
president just around the corner, we're simply asking Secretary Rice to bring
Ms. Bachelet up to speed on the case, and hopefully leave with a commitment
from the Chilean government that it will do what's necessary to get some
answers to our questions."
Mr. Weisfeiler, a Russian-born mathematics professor at
Evidence later surfaced, corroborated by several declassified government
documents, that Weisfeiler was actually detained by former dictator Augusto
Pinochet and his soldiers, who presumed Weisfeiler to be an agent of the CIA,
or a Russian or Jewish spy. He was reportedly taken to the German settlement of
Colonia Dignidad, but beyond that, little more is known of his fate.
Today's letter, signed by Sens. Santorum, Specter, and several others members of Congress
from both chambers, is just the latest effort by Congressman Peterson to
unearth details of Mr. Weisfeiler's disappearance and bring about an open and
comprehensive accounting of his fate. Peterson lodged two separate inquires
with the State Department in 2005, only to be assured that solving the
Weisfeiler case continues to be a top priority of the
"We're not asking for something that cannot be delivered," added
Peterson. "We just want answers, and I think Boris's family, friends, and
former students are, in the very least, entitled to those."
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A complete list of the
co-signatories, along with the letter itself, is attached to this release