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Rebel leader says he'll gradually release hostages
Utilities restored to besieged ambassador's house
December 21, 1996
Web posted at: 9:00 p.m. EST (0200 GMT)In this story:
LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Peruvian officials restored the flow of water and electricity to the Japanese ambassador's home where hundreds of hostages remain trapped, while the rebel commander offered hope Saturday that more captives would be freed.
Speaking via walkie-talkie from the besieged residence live with Peruvian television, a man identified as Nestor Cerpa Cartolini said Saturday he would continue gradually freeing captives who are not officials of the Peruvian government. The time frame for the release was not revealed.
Rebels inside the compound of Japanese Ambassador to Peru have been able to establish two-way radio communication with a local TV station. Cerpa told listeners he understood the anguish of hostages' families, but called for understanding.
Cerpa also said he will consider laying down arms and joining the political process.
His comments were reported shortly after officials restored utilities to the besieged house. Hostages, held at gunpoint in the elegant house since Tuesday, have been living in crowded, squalid conditions. And the move to restore utilities came amid growing concern about the health of the hostages.
"There could be an outbreak...of cholera and diarrhea because of the lack of water," Peruvian Medical Federation President Max Cardenas said Saturday outside the residence.
The Red Cross has delivered to the hostages basic supplies for several days, and Saturday began sending playing cards, chess sets and dominoes to help them to pass the time.
Peru's President Alberto Fujimori has been silent on the crisis since Tuesday night, when about 20 members of a leftist group seized the residence of Japan's ambassador to Peru during a party. About 340 hostages are being held at gunpoint, and the Tupac Amaru rebel leaders have threatened to kill them unless officials release hundreds of their imprisoned comrades.
Peru's 'most-wanted' man is in charge
Recently freed hostages said the leader of the leftist Tupac Amaru terrorists who hold the hostages is one of Peru's most wanted and dangerous men: Nestor Cerpa Cartolini.
Cerpa is co-founder of the Tupac Amaru movement who was jailed in the late 1970s for involvement in a bloody takeover of a textile factory in which three policemen were killed.
He is also credited with a dramatic 1990 tunnel escape that freed Tupac Amaru leader Victor Polay and nearly 50 other comrades from one of Peru's maximum security prisons. Polay was recaptured two years later, but Cerpa has remained at large even as Peruvian authorities bragged about containing the terrorist threat.
"There is absolutely no doubt that it is Cerpa Cartolini who has directed and is directing this operation," said Manuel Romero, editor of Peru's leading business newspaper, who was released with 37 other hostages Friday.
"We're not talking about just anyone," said Javier Diez Canseco, another former hostage. "If this leader has placed himself in the lion's den it's because he's going for broke."
Diplomats meet
Sequestered in the Presidential Palace, Fujimori has rejected terrorist demands to free hundreds of imprisoned comrades. But the president of Peru's Congress, Victor Joy Way, said Saturday that Fujimori has also ruled out a military assault on the palace, adding that he has turned down offers from "numerous countries" to send elite military units to the scene.
The president has not permitted his designated mediator to visit the compound, allowing the Red Cross and freed ambassadors to serve as go-betweens.
A delegation of former hostages -- including the ambassadors of Brazil, Egypt and South Korea -- met Saturday with Japan's foreign minister to explore ways out of the crisis.
Correspondent Lucia Newman and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Peru rejects use of force to end crisis - December 21, 1996
- 38 hostages released in Peru - December 20, 1996
- Peru officially silent on hostage crisis - December 20, 1996
- Report: Peru rejects rebels' demands to free prisoners - December 19, 1996
- Four hostages released in Peruvian standoff - December 19, 1996
- Red Cross official named hostage negotiator in Peru - December 19, 1996
- Japan's foreign minister goes to Peru for hostage talks - December 19, 1996
Related sites:
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- Overview of Latin American Terrorism - Peru
- Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)
- Latinworld.com - Peru
- Peru Info Internet
- International Committee of the Red Cross
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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