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Feature Story:

Peruvian rebels free 7 Americans, 1 FSN after 6 days



eruvian rebels freed seven Americans and a Foreign Service National Dec. 22 after storming the Japanese ambassador’s residence in Lima six days earlier, taking nearly 700 hostages during a diplomatic reception marking the birthday of Japanese Emperor Akihito.
The seven officials, who were assigned to the U.S. embassy, included Jim Wagner, political counselor; John Riddle, economic counselor; John Crowe, director of narcotics assistance; Don Boyd, deputy director for the Agency for International Development (AID); David Bayer and Michael Maxey, also with AID; and Kris Merschrod, a contractor with AID. Also released was Pedro Carrillo, a Peruvian who works at the American embassy.
The American ambassador to Peru, Dennis C. Jett, attended the reception but had gone when the guerrillas seized the residence.
The Cuban-inspired terrorists, led by Nestor Cerpa Cartolini, described the mass release as a Christmas gesture. The group’s principal demand is the release of 400 imprisoned rebel members, including Cerpa’s wife. Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has thus far rejected their demand.
At press time, the rebels continued to hold 73 of their hostages. Those still being held include mostly high-profile members of the Peruvian judiciary, congress, police, and others. The International Committee of the Red Cross, under Lima office director Michel Minning, is coordinating humanitarian assistance and communications.
Following the Americans’ release, former U.S. ambassador Alvin Adams, who left Lima in August, told the Washington Post that “crises of this nature go through cycles, almost through an intuitive process of shock and surprise, and then move to stasis.” The terrorists may have “an interest in extending” the stasis stage, said Adams, who has since retired.

the End

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