- Title: GERMANY: MRTA SPOKESMAN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE
- Date: 25th January 1997
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (JANUARY 25, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV EXT MUNICH CITY HALL, WHERE PRESS CONFERENCE HELD 0.07 2. GV PRESS CONFERENCE 0.14 3. SV SPOKESMAN FOR MRTA ISAAC VELAZCO SAYING: 'EVERYTHING SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THE PERUVIAN GOVERNEMENT HAS PUT THINGS IN PLACE FOR A MILITARY SOLUTION. FOREIGN JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN PUSHED ASIDE AND THE RESIDENCE HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY TANKS' (SPANISH WITH GERMAN TRANSLATION) 1.16 4. SV REPORTER 1.24 5. SV VELAZCO SAYING "MRTA ACTIVISTS WOULD RATHER DIE FIGHTING THAN CONTINUE TO LIVE ON THEIR KNEES" (SPANISH WITH GERMAN TRANSLATION) 1.43 6. SV REPORTER TAKING NOTES 1.51 7. SV VELAZCO SAYING: "THE CONFLICT WILL NOT END WITH THE DEATH OF THE MRTA FIGHTERS" (SPANISH WITH GERMAN TRANSLATION) 2.07 8. SV REPORTER 2.10 9. CU POSTER READING "TUPAC AMARU IS ALIVE AND WILL BE VICTORIOUS(" (GERMAN) (2 SHOTS) 2.24 10. LV/SV SOLIDARITY RALLY THAT WAS HELD AT MUNICH'S KARL'S SQUARE AFTER VELAZCO'S NEWS CONFERENCE (3 SHOTS) 2.36 11. LV VELAZCO ON STAGE ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE 2.41 12. SV AUDIENCE (2 SHOTS) 2.46 13. SV VELAZCO SPEAKING WITH TRANSLATOR 2.52 14. SV AUDIENCE APPLAUDING 2.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 9th February 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVA6930EZ8CI1SBVLYCNKWG4UXLM
- Story Text: INTRO: A spokesman for the Marxist rebels holding 73 hostages in the Japanese ambassador's house in Lima told a press conference he thought the Peruvian government would end the crisis with violence.
"The Peruvian government has put things in place for a military solution. Journalists have been pushed aside and the residence has been surrounded by tanks," said Isaac Velazco, spokesman of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA).
Last night police tested how far they could push the rebels with night manoeuvres outside the residence, but there was no immediate response from inside the compund.
Velazco, speaking at a news conference before a public rally in Munich, said the MRTA knew their occupation would be answered with military action, but had acted to stop the killing of MRTA prisoners in Peru.
"MRTA fighters would rather die than continue to live on their knees," said Velazco, who is based in Germany.
Marxist rebels stormed the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima on December 17, taking more than 500 hostages and demanding the release of some 400 imprisoned comrades and the end to the country's "neo-liberal economic policy".
To pressure Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, the MRTA continues to hold two Peruvian ministers, judges, congressmen, generals, security chiefs, about two dozen Japanese businessmen and diplomats and the Japanese and Bolivian ambassadors.
Later on Saturday, Velazco addressed around 100 people at a public rally and called for a political solution to the conflict in Peru and freedom for political prisoners.
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