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Peruvian rebels agree to peace negotiations
Repeat demand that government release their comrades
January 15, 1997
Web posted at: 11:15 a.m. EST (1615 GMT)LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Tupac Amaru rebels holding 74 hostages inside the Japanese ambassador's residence on Wednesday accepted a Peruvian government proposal for a peace commission to mediate an end to the four-week-old standoff.
The rebels also reiterated their promise not to kill any of their captives.
"It is not in our minds to carry out executions," they said in a statement.
In their statement, via a two-way radio transmission, the rebels said they would like the commission to be made up of representatives from the Catholic church, the International Red Cross, Guatemala and an unnamed European country.
The rebels said they wanted all topics to be discussed, including their principal demand for the release of 400 of their comrades from Peruvian prisons. They also said that a site for the negotiations could be discussed.
The transmission was picked up after the rebels put a sign in a window telling a local television station to tune to a radio frequency.
There was no immediate response from the government.
On Sunday, an attempt by the government's negotiator, Education Minister Domingo Palermo, to meet with the rebels failed after rebel leader Nestor Cerpa said there would be no point in the talks if the government did not bring a proposal for freeing the rebels from Peruvian prisons.
Wednesday's rebel statements appeared to be similar to a proposal made by Palermo on Sunday. He told a news conference the government was proposing the following:
- The creation of a commission made up of representatives of the International Red Cross and the Vatican to preside over the talks between the designated representatives of the rebels and the Peruvian government.
- Selection of a suitable location for the meetings.
- The topics to be discussed would be those "already identified in previous contacts."
On several occasions, Peruvian Bishop Juan Luis Cipriani who lives in an area where the rebels have their headquarters, has talked with the rebels. His discussions have led to the release of hostages on more than one occasion. Cipriani is also a close friend of Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori.
The Tupac Amaru guerrillas stormed the Japanese ambassador's residence on December 17. Since then, they have release about 400 hostages.
Related stories:
- 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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