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Report: Rebels demand ransom from Japanese companies
January 5, 1997
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT)TOKYO (CNN) -- Marxist guerrillas holding 74 hostages in Peru, including Japanese business leaders, have demanded a multimillion-dollar ransom from major Japanese companies, a newspaper reported Sunday. But a Japanese news agency disputed the report.
According to the Japanese daily Mainichi, Tupac Amaru rebels demanded $100 million in exchange for company officials last month. After the companies rejected the offer, the rebels lowered the demand to $30 million, but to no avail, unidentified sources told the paper.
Kyodo News disputed the report. It quoted Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto as saying he was unaware of any such demand and that the government had not been approached.
"We have not even been sounded out so we cannot even refuse," Hashimoto was quoted as saying.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry refused to comment on the accuracy of the Mainichi report. A spokesman, however, said its appearance could hamper negotiations with guerrillas.
"It is regrettable that this report was published," said spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto, a cousin of the prime minister. "If this sort of report ... continues to be made public, it will very much impede the Peruvian government's efforts to end the hostage crisis."
Japan's government has said it would not give in to any ransom demands.
Pope calls for peaceful end
Meanwhile, in an apparent appeal to the rebels, Pope John Paul II urged hostage-takers to free their captives as a "gesture of humanity."
"The mercy of Christ, born of human weakness, urges hostage-takers to fulfill this gesture of humanity -- free these people," the pope said during his regular Sunday address. He made no direct reference to the Peru crisis.
The Tupac Amaru guerrillas stormed the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima on December 17. They are demanding the release of some 400 Tupac Amaru comrades in Peruvian prisons. Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has rejected that demand.
Among the 74 hostages still in captivity are more than a dozen Japanese businessmen and Japanese ambassador Morihisa Aoki.
The rebels have not publicly demanded ransom payments.
Bishop, mediator visit compound
Roman Catholic Bishop Luis Cipriani, a close personal friend of Fujimori, entered the residence Sunday, as he has done on a regular basis since the crisis began, ostensibly to lend spiritual support to the hostages.
Cipriani and Red Cross mediator Michel Minnig met with rebels and hostages for some two hours Saturday.
The two men, who rebels have allowed to freely bring aid and relief goods to hostages, refused to comment on the visit.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Peru rebels to Fujimori: no talks, no solution - January 4, 1997
- Hostage standoff in Peru continues - January 3, 1997
- Fujimori names replacements for leaders held hostage - January 2, 1997
- Seven hostages released from Peru diplomatic compound - January 1, 1997
- Peruvian rebels repeat demand that comrades be freed - December 31, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Human Rights Reference Site
- The MRTA Solidarity Page by Arm the Spirit
- Voz Rebelde Internacional -- the official page of the MRTA in Europe (in Spanish)
- Internet Network of Peru
- Peru Home Page (in Spanish)
- Hemisferio Sur (in Spanish) - links to "Caretas" magazine, and "La Republica" and "Expreso" newspapers
- Peru Info Internet
- International Committee of the Red Cross
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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