Masatoshi also confirmed that Hitomi's departure from Peru was another of the government's demands. I was just doing my job. TV Asahi did not agree to the third demand, to let the Peruvian government keep the videotape. Hitomi was scheduled to give a press conference in English, Spanish and Japanese at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City at 4 pm on Jan. 12. Despite the government's efforts to curtail the media's access to the rebels, the MRTA is still managing to get its messages out to the press and public by placing hand-lettered signs in the windows of the diplomatic compound.
Demand is release of our prisoners.
In another sign posted at the residence, the rebels said that in the interview with Hitomi they had explained their reasons for holding the Japanese diplomats and businesspeople. Not only the media has suffered harassment at the hands of Peruvian authorities. Those under investigation include everyone from waiters to police officers. In addition, teams of army, navy and police intelligence personnel have been following several of the former hostages, including congressperson Javier Diez Canseco, economists Alejandro Toledo and Gustavo Saberbein, theater critic Luis Peirano, businessperson Luis Pendavis and several foreign diplomats. Diez Canseco said his phone is being tapped, and his home was recently dynamited in an attack that remains uninvestigated.