Fujimori looks for peaceful options to end hostage-taking

January 7, 1997
Web posted at: 9:20 p.m. EST (0220 GMT)

From Correspondent Lucia Newman

LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Looking serene and confident, Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori reiterated his refusal to free the comrades of leftist hostage-takers and said he is willing to wait to avert bloodshed.

In an exclusive interview Wednesday with CNN's Lucia Newman, Fujimori said he is seeking "pacific solutions" to the hostage crisis rather than a quick military resolution, suggesting that his government won't use force unless the rebels harm the captives.

View the Vivo movie CNN interviews Peru President Fujimori Part 1 Part 2 Download a player Vivo's technical FAQ

Also Wednesday, Fujimori led a light-hearted election-style tour through Lima's poor neighborhoods to prove that the rebel siege had not paralyzed the country.

"This is a great demonstration ... in favor of the government, in favor of peace, and against violence," the president said.

The visit followed his tour Tuesday to shantytowns and a prison holding some members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, whose rebels are holding the hostages.

Attitude of openness

Fujimori stressed his flexibility, leaving open the prospect of a deal to end the crisis that began December 17 when about 20 members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement stormed the Japanese ambassador's home in Lima during a party and took about 500 hostages. All but 74 have been released.

"We have offered some specific ways out," Fujimori said. For instance, he didn't rule out a deal to allow the rebels safe passage out of Peru, if they release remaining captives.

Excerpts from the interview with President Fujimori

A message to the nation (391K/35 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) Not going to liberate rebels (179K/16 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) Use of force (94K/8 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) Fighting terrorism (221K/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) Radio contact (230K/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Transcript of the interview

But Fujimori repeatedly referred to the MRTA guerrillas as "terrorists," a description that chafes Tupac Amaru members, who have described themselves as advocates for Peru's impoverished masses.

Rebel demand 'unacceptable'

The president calmly described the rebel demand for the government to free imprisoned comrades as "unacceptable."

"We are not going to liberate those terrorist groups because of our law and because of national security."

When asked whether he underestimated the terrorist threat against Peru, Fujimori described the hostage-taking as an "isolated incident" that could have occurred anywhere.

We have shown, given these last three years, that we were succeeding in fighting terrorists," he said. "Now we are showing to the world that this fighting against two terrorist groups was feasible, and now we have an isolated case which doesn't mean that terrorism is alive, as it was before."

Fighting poverty

Fujimori said official negotiators have been in radio contact with the rebels, but added those talks broke off when the rebels staged an impromptu news conference last week.

There has been no direct contact between the government and the rebels since Peruvian Education Minister Domingo Palermo spoke with them before the end of the year. The last group of hostages were released January 1.

But Fujimori said he is open to more direct talks. "We're waiting for a favorable condition for beginning again the talks," he said.

The leader said he is trying to "fix the framework" of the talks while also addressing what the rebels have described as the root of their cause: poverty.

"Poverty doesn't imply, necessarily, violence," he said. "We are (attacking) poverty through several measures, and that's one of the main goals of my government. We expect that in the next years, the economy will improve. And we expect that extreme poverty will drop from 22 percent to 11 percent by the year 2000."

Reuters contributed to this report.

 

Related stories:

• Hashimoto says he fears 'protracted war' in hostage crisis - January 6, 1997
• Report: Rebels demand ransom from Japanese companies - January 5, 1997
• 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:

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• 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

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