Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 16:58:33 -0800
Subject: M-G: Peru's Dictator Hiding in his Bunker



News from Peru Support Committee/Detroit
======================================================
Peru's Hitler Hidden Away in Palace Bunker 


LIMA, Peru - Dictator Alberto Fujimori was said
to be highly "annoyed" with the propaganda coup by
MRTA hostage-takers who spoke with journalists Tuesday.

Fujimori, whose brother Pedro is among the 74
hostages still held inside the Japanese ambassador's
residence, spent New Year's Day shut up in his bunker at
the Government Palace with security advisers wringing
his hands and sweating like a pig.

"He's annoyed and wouldn't you be?" said the dictator's
spokesperson. "They took the initiative and made a mockery of
him, managing to send their faces around the world in
minutes."

THE PARTY CRASHERS FROM HELL

Nestor Cerpa, leader of the 20-odd MRTA  who crashed a 
party at the residence on Dec. 17, held court for about
two hours Tuesday and harangued Fuijimori's
government as a "dictatorship" to reporters who had
slipped into the compound.

Cerpa reiterated that the rebels would not surrender
until their prisoners had been released and said he was in no
hurry to end the standoff. He added, however, that the
doors of the residence were open to government negotiators
and said he was willing to consider mediation by Cuba
or Russia.

The MRTA followed up the visit by journalists
by releasing two hostages Tuesday and seven Wednesday. 

Those released Wednesday were four Japanese
businessmen and three Peruvians, including a top economic
official with the government. All of them appeared in good
health as they strolled out of the Japanese ambassador's
residence clutching plastic bags containing dirty clothes.

FUJIMORI GOES INTO HIDING

Fujimori has flatly rejected the rebels' demands,
though he has said "several options" were being looked at
to try to end the crisis. 
                
A source close to Fujimori, speaking on condition of
anonymity, described him as "very serious, very worried,
virtually silent. Every time there is a big problem like this,
he closes up completely."

Following the takeover, the normally publicity-loving
Fujimori put up a wall of silence and virtually disappeared
>from public view. Government Palace sources said
Fujimori was relying most heavily for counsel on security
adviser Valdimiro Montesinos, another enemy of the people. A 
shadowy and sinister figure who is hardly ever seen in public,
Montesinos is the dictator's chief advisor and is  widely
considered Fujimor's unofficial right-hand man.

After Montesinos, the sources said, he has had most
contact with Education Minister Domingo Palermo, a
low-profile minister surprisingly chosen as the 
mediator between the dictatorship and the MRTA.

Locked away from the world like Hitler in his bunker,
Fujimori has only had his daughter Keiko Sofia at his side
>from the outset to console him. "She's not playing a
political role, but she's helping him handle the stress," the
source said.

Japan Also Mad At Rebel Coup
           
Peru's dictator is not the only one upset with the propaganda
coup. Japan criticized the visit by journalists as well. "The
rebels' one-sided views were widely transmitted all over the
world through media," moaned Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Hiroshi Hashimoto 

Tadashi Itoh, the assistant news editor of the Kyodo
news agency, whose photographer led the procession into
the residence, defended the coverage as appropriate.

It is only natural that Fujimori and oppressors of the
people would be opposed to the world's masses hearing 
and knowing what is going on in Peru.  Dictators like 
Fujimori do not like the light of day to shine on their
corrupt deeds, but prefer to keep people misinformed and
ignorant.

========================================================Posted by:
Peru Support Committee/Detroit
Jan/02/97



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