|
Peruvian rebels release 2 hostages
Threaten to kill others if demands aren't met
In this story:
A L S O : Tupac Amaru -- Peru's smaller guerrilla group December 18, 1996
Web posted at: 1:00 p.m. EST (1800 GMT)LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Leftist guerrillas released at least two hostages from the Japanese embassy compound just after noon Wednesday, shortly after threatening to kill Peruvian Foreign Minister Francisco Tudela if their demands were not met.
About 200 hostages remained inside the home of Japanese Ambassador Morihisa Aoki, where Tupac Amaru rebels were demanding the release from prison of about 400 of their colleagues.
Rebels also demanded medical treatment for a guerrilla wounded in the Tuesday night assault on the embassy compound, and reports indicated that the injured rebel had received medical treatment.
The hostage situation began Tuesday night when members of the Tupac Amaru rebel movement, disguised as waiters and caterers, slipped into Aoki's home at a reception honoring the birthday of Japan's Emperor Akihito.
At noon Wednesday, the rebel commander said on Peruvian television that President Alberto Fujimori had 20 minutes to contact them about their demands or they would begin killing hostages, starting with Tudela. The deadline passed with no killings reported.
Explosions and gunfire rang for about an hour after the initial assault, as police surrounded the compound. The rebels eventually released as many as 170 women and elderly guests, but said they would kill the rest if their demands aren't met.
"We are clear," an unidentified rebel told a Lima radio station Wednesday morning, "the liberation of all our comrades, or we die with all the hostages."
He called the hostages "prisoners of war," and said they would be executed if the government did not give in.
Rebel demands
The Marxist rebels demanded the release from prison of 400 Tupac Amaru leaders, complete reform of the prison system, a reduction in Japan's participation in Peru's economy, and an end to some reforms implemented by Fujimori.
The rebels want to speak with Fujimori, a government ombudsman, and a priest experienced in dealing with terrorists, and they demanded that they and their freed colleagues be taken to their "war zone in the jungle."
Fujimori, who is of Japanese descent and has close ties with Japan, spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto by phone, and called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss a response to the situation.
Negotiations were reportedly taking place between the rebels, the government and Red Cross officials.
Witness reports
The approximately 200 people remaining inside the compound Wednesday morning included about 30 ambassadors to Peru, Peru's foreign and agriculture ministers, six legislators, the president of the Supreme Court, embassy staff, and guests.
Witnesses to the attack on the compound said the hostages were forced to lie face down for about 40 minutes after the initial assault.
"I heard a loud explosion, then gunfire," said Mieko Torii, who was among those released. "We were told to get down and not move. There was a lot of yelling."
"The guerrillas stalked around the residence grounds threatening us," said BBC correspondent Sally Bowen, who was released. They said, "Don't lift your heads up or you will be shot."
Correspondent Eric Lyman and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser windowExternal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.