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Rebel commander, Peruvian negotiator meet face-to-face
February 11, 1997
Web posted at: 6:54 p.m. EST (2354 GMT)LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Talks aimed at freeing 72 hostages held at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima got under way Tuesday between a rebel representative and chief government negotiator Domingo Palermo.
The Tupac Amaru rebels' second-in-command, Roli Rojas, apparently left the residence late Tuesday afternoon in a white Red Cross car. It was impossible to see inside the vehicle because the windows were tinted.
The driver drove 150 feet, across the street to a specially rented two-story "safe house."
It was the first time the rebel leader had left the compound of the Japanese ambassador's house in nearly two months. The two men, meeting under the watchful eye of a guarantor commission, will attempt to set an agenda for further government talks with rebel leader Nestor Cerpa.
Before the meeting, journalists saw a car slowly approach the ambassador's compound, stop in an area inaccessible to dozens of TV camera crews stationed on a nearby rooftop, then drive across the street and into a garage.
Members of special police units, dressed in black and armed with automatic weapons, were stationed every 100 yards along the street. Rojas was said to have laid down his weapons before setting out for the meeting.
The hostages are all who remain of more than 500 VIPs the rebels took captive at a lavish cocktail party at the residence December 17. The Japanese ambassador to Peru held the social event to mark the birthday of the emperor of Japan. The other hostages have been freed. Until Tuesday, no rebel leader had left the safety of the Japanese compound.
Members of a guarantor commission overseeing the talks include Red Cross representative Michel Minnig, Canadian Ambassador Anthony Vincent and Roman Catholic Bishop Juan Luis Cipriani. Sitting in as an official observer for Japan is Terusuke Tarada, the Japanese ambassador to Mexico.
Commission members said the two sides agreed to a pact of silence over the content of the discussions.
The rebels have said they won't release the remaining captives until the Peruvian government releases 440 of their comrades jailed in Peruvian prisons. Peruvian President Albert Fujimori has repeatedly stated that he will not release any of the prisoners.
One issue that was expected to arise during the talks was the possibility of finding asylum in another country for the rebels holding the hostages.
The rebels last met face-to-face with Palermo on December 28. Since then, talks have stalled because of the impasse over the rebels' demands. The two sides have exchanged messages through intermediaries.
Cipriani, a close personal friend of Fujumori, has warned that the talks will be delicate and discretion will be the byword.
"All the information related to the issues discussed deserve to be managed by everyone with great discretion and responsibility," he said.
Among the remaining 72 captives are two Peruvian ministers, the Japanese and Bolivian ambassadors, about two dozen Japanese businessmen and Fujimori's brother.
Related stories:
- Rebels set off explosion, say they are ready to talk - February 10, 1997
- Fujimori reiterates hard line on rebels - February 10, 1997
- Peru's president, amid hostage standoff, to meet with Albright - February 2, 1997
- Peru, Japan agree to seek peaceful end to hostage-taking - February 1, 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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