Voluntary Hostage: 126 Days in the Residence of the Japanese Ambassador

Like most Peruvians and world public opinion, the events at the Japanese Embassy moved me deeply. Feelings of astonishment, anguish, and shame mingled with growing concern over what appeared to be a probable bloody end. Five days later, on December 22, news from the embassy mitigated the confusion and shame with feelings of admiration and respect: a Catholic priest, Father Juan Julio Wicht, refused to leave the embassy, voluntarily choosing to remain in captivity. And there he remained for 126 days, under threat to his life, alongside the 71 hostages condemned in advance if the government attempted to rescue them by force. The courage and moral fortitude of Juan Julio Wicht struck me as particularly admirable. A week later I tried to persuade him to write the book and make him understand the interest and importance of his personal testimony and the value of his message. He resisted, feeling uncomfortable with any possible appearance of self-promotion. In our next interview I had the immense satisfaction of hearing this reply: "Agreed, let's do it together." I consider that sharing the task of making this book possible has been a privilege and a challenge. I have tried to find the language that, in the most precise and effective way, narrates the events, memories, emotions, and impressions of Juan Julio Wicht, gathered over long hours of recordings. (Excerpt from Introduction).