Military

DATE=10/28/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268576

TITLE=PERU MILITARY-RESHUFFLE(L-ONLY)

BYLINE=CLAIRE MARSHALL

DATELINE=LIMA

INTERNET=

INTRO: Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has announced the replacement of the top three military commanders and one regional commander Saturday, as the hunt for former intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos goes on. As Claire Marshall reports from Lima, the forced-resignation of the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force takes place immediately.

TEXT: In a surprise statement to the press standing on the steps of the Presidential Palace, President Fujimori announced that he had accepted the resignations of the four commanders who hold the highest military posts in the country. One of these generals is the brother-in-law of former spy master Vladimiro Montesinos who had been in control of the most powerful military garrison in the country.

The President said that the generals had made a necessary "sacrifice in the name of authentic democratization". Mr. Fujimori gave the names of the new commanders who will replace the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the second military regfion, but he refused answer any questions from reporters.

Amongst the changes, former interior minister General Walter Chacon, takes over as Head of the Army. General Chacon is known to be a faithful supporter of the President, which has led analysts to believe the move is an attempt by President Fujimori to purge the military high command of officers loyal to disgraced former security chief, Vladimiro Montesinos. During his years as de-facto head of the National Intelligence Service, Mr Montesinos hand-picked many of Peru's top Generals most of whom are graduates from his class at military school.

Meanwhile the search for Mr Montesinos continues, with the President's failure so far to find him lending weight to suspicions that he is being shielded by allies in the military. (Signed)

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