Military

DATE=11/1/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268729

TITLE=Peru Revolt (S-Only)

BYLINE=Bill Rodgers

DATELINE=Lima

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Peruvian army troops continued their pursuit of a rebel military officer in Peru's southern highlands Wednesday, as the government's human rights ombudsman called on the renegade officer to end his revolt. From Lima, VOA's Bill Rodgers reports.

TEXT: Peruvian troops continued their search for Lieutenant Colonel Ollanta Humala Tasso for a third day Wednesday, in the barren highlands of southern Peru near the border with Chile.

Colonel Humala is down to less than ten men, from the 50 soldiers who took part in his uprising Sunday against the government of President Alberto Fujimori. The rest were either captured or surrendered Monday.

However, Colonel Humala's denunciations of the Fujimori government and of the military high command have struck a sympathetic chord among some Peruvians. Some 150 unarmed military reservists Wednesday marched to the region to try to join his protest.

Meantime, the government's human rights ombudsman, Jorge Santistevan, is in the southern city of Moquegua to mediate a peaceful end to the uprising. Mr. Santistevan failed to establish contact with Colonel Humala Wednesday, but called on him to end his revolt saying authorities have pledged to respect his security and honor, and those of his men. (Signed)

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