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Fujimori tells The Daily Star

Distance shouldn’t be barrier to becoming partners in progress

By M Anwarul Haq
Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has said states should stand together and make concerted efforts to root out terrorism for the sake of poverty alleviation and national and international development.
Fujimori said. "Terrorists are not friends of the people. They are not rebels and they do not have the support of the masses. Their agenda is to hinder the development process by intimidation and terrorist tactics."
In an interview with The Daily Star yesterday. Fujimori spoke candidly about his visit to Bangladesh as well as Peru's fight against terrorist groups like the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru.
Shining Path leader Abumel Guzman was sentenced to life imprisonment in Peru while Tupac Amaru commander Nestor Cerpa. who led a 126-day siege of the Japanese mission in Lima, was killed in last month's much publicised rescue of 72 hostages.
Fujimori, who earlier addressed a press conference, pointed out that there were leftist groups which commanded a lot of respect in Peru. But they were non-violent and were participating in the national development process. His country could not afford violence and terrorism, he added.
Fujimori said fighting poverty and unemployment was the primary agenda of his government and uppermost in the
minds of Peruvians. Eight per cent of Peru's population was , unemployed while 45 per cent 'was under-employed.
The Peruvian President said micro-credit schemes were being organised to alleviate poverty and that one of the main reasons for his visit to
Bangladesh was to see the country's micro credit financing projects.
He said he had close contact with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the micro-credit summit in Washington and there was worldwide appreciation of Bangladesh's microcredit financing projects, undertaken to fight poverty.
Fujimori said although Peru might seem far away from Bangladesh, the two countries had much to offer each other. "Distance should not separate us as both of our countries are developing nations and we could be partners in progress.” he said.
"A beginning should be made in building bridges between developing nations, and I am proud to be the first person to visit Bangladesh, not only from Peru but from the entire South American continent."
Fujimori said Peru was rich in minerals and while this resource was being tapped, it also exported products like fish feed
to Bangladesh and imported Bangladeshi semi-industrial goods.
He hoped his visit would encourage expansion of trade ties in sectors like cotton, fisheries and pulp.
On the fighting in Peru, which continued for the past 30 years, Fujimori said he was confident the recent successful operation against Tupac Amaru had largely eliminated terrorist threat.
"We have been able to show that we can deal strongly with terrorists and we are optimistic that in the future we will have a peaceful country. Democracy will now. and must always, stand firm against terrorism."
Asked if the rebels in his country had outside support. Fujimori said. They are not rebels. They do not have a cause. We are sure all the terrors of Tupac Amaru are now eliminated. They have some support and financing from some European countries, but I am hopeful
that after the rescue operation this wil) fade out."
Fujimori dispassionately said. "They do not have any support among the masses. They do not have followers. We cannot call them guerillas. They are just terrorists — they thrive on extortion and intimidation. They are involved in " nacro-terrorism."
"Both the groups are now disorganised and 95 per cent of the leaders are in jail." he added.
Asked whether some of the commandos who seized the embassy were intentionally killed although they wanted to surrender — as a section of the press claimed — Fujimori replied. "It is not correct. There was no order to kill in cold-blood. The troops who carried out the operation were given orders to act as the situation demanded to save the lives of the hostages."
On the fate of Abumel Guzman. Fujimori said, "He was one of the ring-leaders of the terrorist world. He was respon-
sible for the death of 35,000 people. He destroyed the infrastructure of Peru, causing 25 billion dollars of damage."
Guzman was enjoying all the rights provided by international laws, he said.
Asked if it was true that Guzman's relatives were not being allowed to visit him, Fujimori said there was provision for relatives to visit him once a month. He, however, added that his (Guzman) brother, who lived in a distant town, was not interested in visiting Guzman.
Fujimori, whose family migrated to Peru from Japan in 1934, said he was proud to have oriental ties and that oriental values like hard work, sincerity and dedication helped him lead his country.
Asked how he saw his own future, a visibly relaxed Fujimori replied, "I will be a strong leader of may country
In reply to a question, he said "when I am out of office, I will look for a new Job in my country or any country that would offer one."