|
Japan urges G7 nations to help end Peru hostage crisis
In this story:
December 27, 1996
Web posted at: 8:50 a.m. EST (1350 GMT)(CNN) -- Japan revealed on Friday that it has begun consulting fellow members of the Group of Seven industrialized nations in hopes of finding a joint solution to the 10-day-old Peru hostage crisis.
While Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori remained silent on possible ways to end the crisis, parliamentary speaker Victor Joy Way said the legislature was prepared to grant an amnesty, but would do so only if given such a proposal by the government.
Amnesty for Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement rebels holding 103 hostages was being discussed by government officials, sources told CNN.
Guatemalan Ambassador Jose Maria Argueta, released Thursday from the Japanese ambassador's residence, said he won freedom because his government has just ended a 36-year-civil war with leftist guerrillas.
International solution?
In Tokyo, Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda told a news conference that Japan has started talks with Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the United States to draft a joint plan to end the drama.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman later said Japan was also in touch with Russia on the issue.
In Bonn, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that G7 ambassadors already had met in Lima to discuss their next step. He said Russia was also taking part in the talks.
The move to seek a G7 solution follows a similar proposal by Russian President Boris Yeltsin earlier this week.
Harassment denied
Also on Friday, Peruvians living in Japan said reports of harassment against them in connection with the hostage crisis in Peru have been overstated. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said he was "ashamed" of the acts of harassment against Peruvians in Japan.
The only two notable incidents reported so far occurred over two days last week in Isezaki, a town 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Tokyo that is home to several thousand Peruvians.
The window of a shop that stocks Peruvian goods was smashed, as was the windshield of a Japanese-Peruvian grocer.
Correspondent Susan Candiotti andReuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Freed captives a way for rebels to send a message - December 26, 1996
- Hostage-takers release Guatemalan ambassador - December 26, 1996
- Animal may have caused Peru hostage blast - December 26, 1996
- Another hostage, apparently ill, released in Peru - December 25, 1996
- Hostage freed in Peru after Uruguay makes concession - December 24, 1996
- Peru hostage crisis at impasse on Christmas Eve - December 24, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Peru Info Internet
- Overview of Latin American Terrorism - Peru
- Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)
- MRTA Solidarity Page
- Latinworld.com - Peru
- International Committee of the Red Cross
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.