Seizure of the Japanese ambassador's residence by MRTA
MRTA took residence of Japanese ambassador with 490 hostages; Cipriani mediated without success.
In December 1996, the MRTA took over the Japanese ambassador's residence, holding 490 people hostage. Juan Julio Wicht, S.J. Monsignor Juan Luis Cipriani intervened in the negotiations as president of the Commission of Guarantors. On April 23, 1997, the bloody seizure of the residence by government forces took place. Cipriani made efforts to achieve a peaceful solution, but was unsuccessful.