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Japanese official refuses comment on reports of Peru rebel executions
April 27, 1997
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Web posted at: 1:54 p.m. EDT (1754 GMT)LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Former hostages freed in last week's rescue at the Japanese ambassador's residence said Peruvian troops executed Tupac Amaru rebels during the raid, according to Japan's foreign minister.
Yukihiko Ikeda said he had heard reports of the executions, but refrained from comment.
A former hostage, a commando, and military, police and rebel sources all said that the raiding troops killed two unarmed rebels after their capture.
All 14 rebels died during the raid, and the Peruvian government has staunchly denied any were executed. "All of them died in combat," Peruvian Interior Minister General Cesar Saucedo said.
Seventy-one hostages were freed in the raid. One hostage and two commandos were killed.
Peru held responsible for crisis
Ikeda, who left Peru for Tokyo with freed hostage Ambassador Morihisa Aoki Saturday night, also said that Peru should take some responsibility for the crisis in the first place because it had not kept close enough tabs on the Tupac Amaru rebels.
"Regarding the movements of the (rebels), if we had information, the crisis could never have happened," Ikeda said.
Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who vehemently denies any executions took place, had his own criticisms of the Japanese government's attitude toward terrorism.
"I know of cases where ransom was paid for kidnapped Japanese businessmen," he said Saturday. "I don't think we ought to make concessions to such acts of terror. It is cowardice."
Ruins inspired tunnels
Ikeda joined Fujimori Saturday for a tour of the ancient Chavin de Huantar ruins, which Fujimori said inspired him to order construction of a network of tunnels beneath the embassy residence. Some 140 commandos burst from the tunnels on Tuesday in a hail of gunfire and explosions, surprising the rebels during a soccer game.
"The Chavin de Huantar tunnels inspired us, and I give thanks to the ancient gods of the Chavin culture," the president said.
Ikeda called the complex labyrinth "incredible, precise and built with great technique."
The Chavin de Huantar ruins were built 3,000 years ago in an Andean valley in northern Peru. The tunnels lie beneath a large ceremonial temple.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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