Military

DATE=10/30/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268603

TITLE=PERU / REVOLT (S&L)

BYLINE=BILL RODGERS

DATELINE=LIMA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///EDS: SPANISH ACTUALITY IN BUBBLE///

INTRO: Rebel Peruvian soldiers are reported to be holding five hostages - including an army general - to press their demand for President Alberto Fujimori to resign. The revolt is led by a lieutenant colonel and began one day after Mr. Fujimori replaced his military high command. From Lima, V-O-A's Bill Rodgers reports.

TEXT: About 50 soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Ollanta Humala began their revolt Sunday - briefly taking over a mining town in southern Peru, near the border with Chile. In a statement, Colonel Humala demanded the resignation of President Fujimori and the immediate arrest of former spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos.

After abandoning the town, the rebel soldiers headed north in a convoy. They are reported to have taken several hostages with them, including an army general who had come to persuade Colonel Humala to end the revolt.

The uprising came one day after Mr. Fujimori dismissed the heads of the army, navy and air force - all reported to be protecting Mr. Montesinos.

The former spy chief - once a close aide to Mr. Fujimori - returned to Peru a week ago from Panama, where he had been seeking political asylum. His return plunged the country into heightened political turmoil.

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The Peruvian leader late last week personally led a manhunt to find Mr. Montesinos who for ten years wielded enormous power as head of Peru's feared intelligence service. A leaked videotape last month showing Mr. Montesinos apparently bribing an opposition politician created a public outcry and forced Mr. Fujimori to fire his security aide and call new elections.

Sunday's uprising by a small group of rebel soldiers is the latest development in the ongoing crisis. The rebels are calling for the support of other Peruvians angry with the Fujimori government. However, Peru's most-prominent opposition leader, Alejandro Toledo, deplored the revolt.

///TOLEDO SPANISH ACTUALITY, IN AND UNDER///

But he also expressed sympathy with the anger of the rebel soldiers and their call for President Fujimori to resign.

The Peruvian Army issued a communique Sunday saying it will take the necessary actions to restore discipline. The statement says the rebellion poses no threat to the nation's stability. (Signed)

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