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Peruvian rebels repeat demand that comrades be freed
Journalists enter hostage house
December 31, 1996
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT)In this story:
LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Peruvian rebels holding 83 hostages appeared to dash hopes for a quick end to the two-week old crisis, repeating on Tuesday their demand that more than 300 jailed comrades be freed.
Rebels omitted that demand Saturday in a communique, which was taken by some as a possible sign that their position had softened. President Alberto Fujimori previously has said he would not free Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement rebels imprisoned in Peru.
Camera crews from CNN and other news organizations, allowed through police lines, stood across the street from the walled Japanese ambassador's residence and recorded a defiant statement shouted through a loudspeaker by one of the rebels inside.
Later, the same message was repeated when journalists, separated into small groups, were allowed to enter the residence. They re-emerged from the building about two hours later.
In their statement, the rebels said they were "determined to make the ultimate sacrifice" in the hostage crisis. They did not elaborate but said they wanted a peaceful end to the standoff.
Translated segments of the rebels' statement "(Peru) is a dictatorship..."
(465 K / 21 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
"We want the world to know..."
(510 K / 23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
'We are not terrorists'
"We are not terrorists. We are not assassins," they said.
"Any harm to them (the hostages) will be the exclusive responsibility of the government of (President Alberto) Fujimori if he decides upon a military intervention," said the rebel who shouted to journalists from behind a window.
He said that during Fujimori's time in office the conditions in Peru's prisons had meant "the death penalty is applied in a slow fashion."
"Peru is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship dressed up as a democracy," the rebel said.
Police allowed journalists to approach the building in small groups from around 10.30 a.m.
Earlier Tuesday, a sign posted at the residence and written in Japanese invited the Kyodo News Agency to send its reporters inside.
Also posted were signs in Japanese saying "Happy New Year."
In addition, electrical power was restored to the residence Tuesday morning.
Celebration heard
Cheering, clapping and singing were heard coming from the ambassador's residence Monday night, but the reason for the apparent celebration was not clear.
Outside, government negotiators and Red Cross officials shuttled in and out of the compound and motorcycle police gathered around, but it was not known if the negotiations had made progress.
Safe passage?
Prior to Tuesday's developments, Fujimori said he would continue talks with the rebels, but in separate interviews with The Associated Press and the Spanish agency EFE, he again ruled out meeting their demand for the release of jailed comrades.
However, the president appeared to indicate that safe passage for the rebels out of Peru was still under consideration if the rebels lay down their weapons.
"The Peruvian government has never denied that possibility," he told AP in a faxed response to written questions. "But there must be discussion."
Press reports have speculated that the government could let the rebels seek asylum in Cuba, but Fujimori said the Cuban government "had not been contacted" by his officials on the matter.
His first public comments on the hostage crisis in 10 days appeared softer in tone than his blunt televised address 10 days ago.
Reprisals feared
The relatives of jailed rebels, who have not been allowed to visit Peru's high security prisons since the hostage crisis began, said they feared government reprisals.
"They are not terrorists," says the mother of a jailed rebel leader. "They are defenders of the people ... They're on the side of the poor."
After a mail exchange allowed by the rebels on Monday, the daughter of a hostage said her father wrote that "he is fine, we shouldn't worry (and) this will all end soon, hopefully."
In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said he was confident of the Peruvian government's ability to handle the crisis -- so much so that he was going ahead with a five-nation Asian trip next week that officials had earlier said might be canceled.
Correspondents Marina Mirabella, Lucia Newman and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Both sides appear to soften stance in Peruvian standoff - December 30, 1996
- Peruvians hopeful after direct talks with rebels - December 29, 1996
- Group of 20 hostages released after direct negotiations - December 28, 1996
- Peruvian hostage crisis enters 11th day - December 28, 1996
Related sites:
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- Peru home Page
- Hemisferio Sur (in Spanish) - links to "Caretas" magazine, and "La Republica" and "Expreso" newspapers
- Peru Info Internet
- U.S. State Dept.: Overview of Latin American Terrorism - Peru
- International Committee of the Red Cross
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