Jim, I have some info direct from Peru, but have deleted the name and
identifying info. Paul Z.
------
Something was about to happen, but no one expected that this would
happen today....
What I have heard since has changed a number of my opinions on the hostage
crisis. According to the Bolivian ambassador (a very credible source), the
MRTA had been practicing for a military attack with the hostages. The
MRTistas put on dynamite and held grenades planning to die and take the
hostages with them. This did not happen because most of the MRTistas were
playing "fulbito" on top of a tunnel entrance which was blown up at the
beginning of the attack, killing everyone above. Obviously, the MRTA's error
in not expecting a daytime attack was key in making this operation possible.
Furthermore, according to the ambassador and to leftist congressman Diez
Canseco, the MRTista leaders really did have a very poor capacity for
negotiations and didn't understand their position nor how to make further
political capital out of their action. This doesn't entirely absolve the
government for not trying harder to negotiate but it does indicate how hard
it would have been to negotiate with them with the best of intentions. By
the way, the rank and file MRTistas in the embassy were really just kids who
apparently knew very little about the world outside the jungle where they
had lived all their young lives.
In military terms, this operation was -- without doubt -- a great military
success. Worldwide, military experts expect a 30% loss of hostage lives in
this type of operation.
Fujimori took time to thank the Intelligence Service for its fine work thus
improving Montesinos' position once more. The armed forces are equally
bouyed up with Gen. Hermosa at the head. What will happen now is unclear.
Certainly Fujimori will be able to make political capital out of these
events. The question is for how long and whether the repression against the
press and other sectors will now increase.
At any rate, thank goodness all but one hostage are safe and sound. Let's
hope their luck doesn't result in the suffering of others now that Fujimori
is strengthened again.
One final note: Fujimori shook hands with the hostages as they got unto a
bus, the majority (all govt members because the Japanese had left earlier)
did not seem enchanted to see him...
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Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp.
*************************************************************************
On Wed, 23 Apr 1997, James Devine wrote:
> does anyone on pen-l have any special information about the government raid
> on the Japanese ambassador's mansion (ending the hostage sitation)? it
> seems very suspicious that ALL of the hostage-takers were killed. It sure
> sounds like some of the hostage-takers were killed after they were taken
> prisoner ...
>
>
>
>
> in pen-l solidarity,
>
> Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ.
> Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
> 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX:
> 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
>
