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Journalists approach Peru hostage house
Standoff enters third week
December 31, 1996
Web posted at: 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT)In this story:
LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- As the Peru hostage crisis entered its third week on Tuesday, television camera crews were allowed to approach the Japanese ambassador's residence where Tupac Amaru rebels were holding 83 captives.
Camera operators and sound technicians -- including a crew from CNN -- crossed police lines and stood across the street from the walled compound, recording what may have been a statement being read by the rebels. The content of the statement was not immediately clear.
A sign posted at the residence on Tuesday morning and written in Japanese invited the Kyodo News Agency to send its reporters inside.
Also posted were signs in Japanese saying "Happy New Year."
In addition, electrical power was restored to the residence Tuesday morning.
Celebration heard
Cheering, clapping and singing were heard coming from the ambassador's residence Monday night, but the reason for the apparent celebration was not clear.
Outside, government negotiators and Red Cross officials shuttled in and out of the compound and motorcycle police gathered around, but it was not known if the negotiations had made progress.
Safe passage?
Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori said he would continue talks with the rebels, but in separate interviews with The Associated Press and the Spanish agency EFE, Fujimori again ruled out meeting their demand for the release of jailed comrades.
However, the president appeared to indicate that safe passage for the rebels out of Peru was still under consideration if the rebels lay down their weapons.
"The Peruvian government has never denied that possibility," he told AP in a faxed response to written questions. "But there must be discussion."
Press reports have speculated that the government could let the rebels seek asylum in Cuba, but Fujimori said the Cuban government "had not been contacted" by his officials on the matter.
His first public comments on the hostage crisis in 10 days appeared softer in tone than his blunt televised address 10 days ago.
Reprisals feared
The rebels, too, may have dropped their hard line. They are no longer insisting, at least publicly, on the release of their jailed colleagues.
"They're giving the image that it's possible to talk and exchange views," said Peruvian Gen. Sinecio Jarama.
However, the relatives of jailed rebels -- who have not been allowed to visit Peru's high security prisons since the hostage crisis began -- fear government reprisals.
"They are not terrorists," says the mother of a jailed rebel leader. "They are defenders of the people ... They're on the side of the poor."
After a mail exchange allowed by the rebels on Monday, the daughter of a hostage said her father wrote that "he is fine, we shouldn't worry (and) this will all end soon, hopefully."
In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said he was confident of the Peruvian government's ability to handle the crisis -- so much so that he was going ahead with a five-nation Asian trip next week that officials had earlier said might be canceled.
Correspondents Marina Mirabella, Lucia Newman andReuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Both sides appear to soften stance in Peruvian standoff - December 30, 1996
- Peruvians hopeful after direct talks with rebels - December 29, 1996
- Group of 20 hostages released after direct negotiations - December 28, 1996
- Peruvian hostage crisis enters 11th day - December 28, 1996
Related sites:
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- Peru home Page
- Hemisferio Sur (in Spanish) - links to "Caretas" magazine, and "La Republica" and "Expreso" newspapers
- Peru Info Internet
- U.S. State Dept.: Overview of Latin American Terrorism - Peru
- International Committee of the Red Cross
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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