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Rebels refuse to budge in Peru
January 18, 1997
Web posted at: 8:15 p.m. EST (0115 GMT)LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Skirting the recent jamming of their radio frequency, leftist rebels holding 73 hostages used a new radio frequency Saturday to broadcast their rejection once more of the government's conditions for talks.
The Tupac Amaru rebels accused government representative Domingo Palermo of reneging on his earlier pledge to consider all issues on the table -- which in the rebels' view includes the release of some 400 jailed rebels.
The government has said the release of the rebels' jailed colleagues is not up for discussion.
"There is no possibility of an immediate way to begin talks because in practicality, what they're asking -- is for us to denounce our principal petition, which to us, amounts to a condition we will never accept," said a rebel spokesman.
The man giving the address was assumed to be the rebel leader Nestor Cerpa, speaking from within the occupied Japanese ambassador's home.
But the rebels did accept the offer for Canadian ambassador and former hostage Anthony Vincent to be an observer to any talks. Vincent has confirmed he would participate.
Palermo has also proposed a meeting outside the residence. The rebel spokesman said he would communicate with the government over where the talks might be held. There was no indication when the two sides might meet.
The rebels got more of their message across by unfurling new homemade banners on bed sheets from the rooftop of the mined and booby-trapped building the control.
"Most of the population would like to feed themselves as well as the authorities held here," read one message, referring to the meals provided daily by the Red Cross during the 32-day siege.
The banners also claimed the captive officials were "responsible for the government's policies that affect the people," and that the rebels' jailed comrades also had families who wanted their relatives' freedom.
The rebels' banners blew over during the morning, but surprisingly two hostages appeared on the roof to rearrange them. The two were identified by the task force as Japanese Embassy attache Shinji Yamamoto and second secretary Akihisa Ougiyama.
Former hostage Luis Valencia, released Friday for medical reasons, kept public silence about his experience. The Red Cross said Valencia, former head of the Delta special forces unit of the anti-terrorist police, has ulcers. He was the first hostage released in 17 days.
The rebels have freed all but 73 of the more than 500 hostages seized at a December 17 party at the residence.
Correspondent Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- A hostage is freed in Peru as government invites talks - January 17, 1997
- 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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