By December 1996, many of us believed that terrorist
activity in Lima was on the wane. Attacks on police stations, bombings and car
bombs were less frequent, and crime with violence appeared to be a more potent
threat to our families’ security. Thus, terrorism was not at the front of my
mind when I received a call in the evening of December 17 to inform me that
Ambassador and Mrs Vincent were in some way victims of a terrorist occupation
of the Japanese residence. Thus began the longest cocktail party in human
history, or what one Peruvian newspaper later described as “The Bloody Summer.”
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| India and Israel's Ambassadors flanking the hosts |
Not really knowing what was happening, as the number 2 at
the Embassy, I called colleagues from the staff, and we sped to the Embassy to
open up the office and a channel with Ottawa as well as to try to gather
information on what had occurred at the Japanese residence. It soon became
clear that Tony and Lucie Vincent were being held captive by an MRTA terrorist
cell along with well over 600 other Peruvian and foreign dignitaries. At about midnight all of the women and some
of the older guests were released, leaving perhaps 350 inside. At about 2:00 in
the morning, I received a telephone call from a calm and collected Tony
Vincent, to debrief me on what was happening in the residence. He had borrowed
someone’s cell phone and we talked with the sound of snoring in the background.
Tony informed me that, beyond himself, there were three other Canadians among
the hostages. With four Canadian lives at risk, this became essentially a
consular crisis for the Embassy – everything else was subordinated to the task
of ensuring that these Canadians emerged unscathed. None of us slept that
night.
The next afternoon Tony was released as part of a commission
to present the terrorists’ demands to President Fujimori. I was near the front
of the Japanese residence at that time, and it was a huge relief to see him
emerge, tired and dishevelled but unharmed. For the next 24 hours, Tony made
repeated attempts to meet with Fujimori, but his efforts had been rebuffed. At
this point, Fujimori clearly wanted to devise and put a strategy in place
before receiving any communiqué from the terrorists.
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| Minister Tudela surrounded by the MRTA |
That evening Tony told me that he would be going back into
the Japanese residence to inform the terrorists that he had not been successful
in his task, but that he would continue his efforts. While the two of us got
along well, this time we argued. I told him not to go back in – who knows
whether he would be allowed to leave again. He persisted, and I told him to
send in a written status report with the Red Cross. He refused, and I asked him
why he was so insistent about going back in. “Because I gave my word” he
replied[1].
Again, I argued that we were dealing with unpredictable terrorists, and one
didn’t have to keep his word to such people. He again insisted, and while I
didn’t agree with what he was doing, I appreciated his courage and desire to
help ensure the safety of many of his colleagues and friends. I watched him go
into the residence with a mixture of emotions: fear and apprehension that he
wouldn’t be coming out alive; and pride that the Canadian foreign service had
produced someone like him. I don’t think I took a full breath until he emerged
some 30 minutes later.
Over the next few days, Tony was able to deliver the
MRTA’s terms to the government’s “interlocutor” for negotiations with the
terrorists, and all the other Canadian hostages had been released. With terms
delivered and all Canadians now safe, I heaved a sigh of relief and thought
that our direct involvement in the crisis was over. Little did I know…
This was one of those things that 'just happened'. I'm glad we decided to go back!
ReplyDeleteHey Mel! Certainly among the more unexpected happenings in the world of diplomacy. I remember it was a difficult time even though my parents had just luckily not been able to make the reception. A truly life altering experience. Cheers!
ReplyDelete