(17 Jan 1997) Spanish/Nat
Exactly one month after leftist guerrillas took over the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, little has changed.
But journalists have made the surrounding roofs their homes and some people are getting ready to give a warm welcome to the hostages when they are released.
In Lima some people have grown accustomed to doing whatever they can to cheer up the hostages.
While Friday was the first month anniversary of the crisis and no cause to celebrate, inside the residence it was one of the hostages' birthday.
A group of well wishers came as near to the house as they could and sang birthday greetings.
Meanwhile, higher up, the cameramen remain on guard on the rooftops of surrounding buildings.
After spending 30 days, 24 hours a day there, they've made themselves comfortable.
Tents, parasols, radios, TV sets, are some of their luxuries.
But their job is also dangerous, with only a very low wall to prevent them from falling.
They are called the bird men.
On a neighbouring roof, are the Japanese media. They are paying thousands of dollars a week to rent the three top floors of a building with a better viewpoint.
But the roof every TV station would like to be on, this one with the jacuzzi, is not for rent.
Its owner, on vacation, does not want anybody to use it.
Nearer the ground, in the Nakachi restaurant, people are also busy because of the hostage crisis.
All the Japanese diplomats, working long hours to try and put an end to the crisis, eat here.
So do the hundreds of Japanese journalists and photographers.
It was here, in the Japan-Peru cultural centre's kitchen where they prepared and delivered a special New Year's Eve dinner for the hostages.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
Q: Do you think this is the hostages' favourite food?
A: I don't think so. For some of them, the Japanese ones, yes, but the Peruvians and the foreigners don't like it very much because they are not used to eating these things.
SUPER CAPTION: Federico Nakachi, Director of Restaurant
One month on, the Peruvian authorities have decided to tighten security.
From Friday the police cordon will be bigger and all journalists will need new accreditation's --hence the long queues near the ambassador's residence.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
Thirty days is too long for the country to be focused only on this problem of the hostages in the Japanese embassy while other problems as serious as poverty or economic difficulties in the country keep accumulating.
SUPER CAPTION: Enrique Bernales, political analyst
Developments have been slow during this month, but there is always something going on near the residence.
On Friday, Emma Plasencia, mother of one of the rebels, went there to ask her daughter to come back home.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
I ask you, my beloved daughter, Iovana Viga Plasencia, to come back home for God's sake.
Q: Do you think she is going to come back, that she is going to leave the residence?
A: I'm not sure what her thoughts are.
SUPER CAPTION: Emma Plasencia, mother of one of the rebels
Leftist guerrillas took over the Japanese ambassador's residence
on December 17.
And a month later, little has changed for those still held captive.
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