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A hostage is freed in Peru as government invites talks
January 17, 1997
Web posted at: 9:25 p.m. EST (0225 GMT)LIMA (CNN) -- Marxist hostage-takers in Peru released their first captive in 17 days Friday as the Peruvian government said it was ready to resume face-to-face talks.
The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) freed Luis Valencia Hirano, head of the Delta special forces unit of the anti-terrorist police DINCOTE, on medical grounds around 2 p.m.
The rebels continue to hold 73 hostages.
The hostage incident was considered an embarrassment for Hirano, whose agency was in charge of keeping track of rebel activities.
Looking haggard and exhausted, and with a heavy beard, Valencia pumped his fist in the air to applause from remaining hostages as he left the building.
"He was released so that he can resume his clinical treatment," said Red Cross mediator Michel Minnig, accompanying Valencia. He did not specify his medical condition but local media said Valencia had heart problems.
Peru ready for talks
The release was followed almost immediately by a brief statement from official negotiator Domingo Palermo stating the government was ready to resume talks with the rebels but would not accept their main demand of freedom for about 400 jailed comrades.
"The government considers it prudent to remember that the objectives of these talks do not include the freeing of these prisoners. But instead, the peaceful exit, with the legal backing of the captors, and the freedom of all the hostages without being harmed," said Palermo.
Palermo told a news conference arrangements had been made for him to meet MRTA leader Nestor Cerpa in a building near the besieged Japanese ambassador's residence.
Canada's ambassador would sit on a "guarantor" peace commission overseeing the talks, he added.
Although Palermo presented the meeting as definite -- adding that a Red Cross vehicle would transport Cerpa to the site -- it was not clear if the rebels had agreed to it.
They broke off a previously planned face-to-face meeting with Palermo over the government's refusal to discuss their main demand.
The hostage standoff began a month ago -- December 17 -- when 15 armed rebels took over a reception given by the Japanese ambassador.
The government Friday toughened its stand against the MRTA. Officials said family visits to jailed MRTA members will be suspended until the crisis is solved, a move that prompted an angry reaction from the rebels.
"It is a cruel decision," said a rebel spokesman.
The government also tightened restrictions on journalists, ordering them to leave their perch overlooking the Japanese ambassador's house.
Mother pleads with rebel daughter
Earlier Friday the mother of one of two girls among the roughly 15 MRTA rebels inside the residence arrived at the site to plead with her daughter to come out.
Emma Plasencia went to the 15th story of a nearby building to shout at her daughter, 16-year-old Giovana Vila Plasencia, to repent and give up.
In a rare piece of good news for Fujimori, a major poll showed Friday his popularity had increased significantly during the crisis.
Fujimori's approval rating rose to 50.3 percent in January from 44.9 percent in December, according to pollster Compania Peruana de Investigacion de Mercados (CPI).
The poll added that an overwhelming 93.2 percent of the population believed the president should look for a peaceful solution to the siege and 88.2 percent said no rebels should be released from prison.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Peruvian rebels release one more hostage - January 17, 1997
- Peruvian rebels agree to peace negotiations - January 15, 1997
- Gunshots heard at ambassador's house in Peru - January 13, 1997
- Peruvian hostage talks fail to materialize - January 12, 1997
- Peru restores contact with hostage-takers - January 10, 1997
- Fujimori looks for peaceful options to end hostage-taking - January 8, 1997
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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