Rumors Swirl on Fate of Peruvian Spy Chief

Uncertainty over the fate of Peru’s mysterious spy chief dominated a tense political scene here Monday, raising concerns about the future of democratic reforms announced by President Alberto Fujimori.

Two days after Fujimori promised to hold new elections and dismantle the national intelligence service, there was little concrete information about the whereabouts and status of Vladimiro Montesinos, the much-criticized presidential advisor who has used the spy agency to become the power behind the throne.

After a day of confusion and rumors, Peru’s justice minister denied reports that Montesinos either had been arrested or was barricaded with military allies in the intelligence service headquarters. Montesinos is somewhere in Lima, the capital, said Justice Minister Alberto Bustamante.

“Even if I knew where he was, I could not tell you,” the justice minister told reporters. “I know that he is in Lima. And I know that he is not under arrest.”

Montesinos is being investigated by prosecutors, Bustamante said, on bribery allegations that surfaced last week and ignited the current political turmoil. His whereabouts are secret for security reasons related to his years heading anti-terrorist forces, Bustamante said.

Although the government said the promised dismantling of the intelligence service has begun, leaders of the political opposition said they doubted Montesinos had relinquished power. They also questioned whether the security forces support Fujimori’s decision to give up power, which led most Peruvians to believe that the advisor would be ousted.

The opposition insists that Montesinos must be arrested before its leaders negotiate preparations for new elections. Fujimori hasn’t spoken publicly since his surprise announcement Saturday. Details about his proposal remain scarce, increasing worries about stability in this fragile democracy, whose military exerts considerable power.

Fujimori met with his Cabinet on Monday to discuss the transition period. Some critics want Fujimori to step down immediately and not after the new elections, as he promised. Others agree with the administration that the president should remain in power, perhaps presiding over a coalition Cabinet.

After the meeting in the presidential palace, officials said the president reiterated his intention of holding elections as soon as possible and would soon release a proposal to that end. But the mystery over Montesinos overshadowed their comments.

Reports that Montesinos had been detained by the military spread in the morning after a woman identified as the spy chief’s sister filed a writ of habeas corpus asserting that he was being held at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service, or SIN.

Bustamante said later that the legal move was bogus and that the woman was not related to Montesinos.

Opposition congressmen who went to SIN headquarters to investigate said they feared that the legal move was a smoke screen by the spy chief. Their suspicions heightened when 200 soldiers armed with machine guns blocked them from entering.

“Impunity rules in this country, and military power dominates civilian power,” lawmaker Anel Townsend said. “Fujimori said he would deactivate the intelligence service. That has not happened.”

When the legislators first arrived, they were met by a colonel in the intelligence service who said Montesinos had been arrested and was being held in the jail facility of an adjacent army base, according to Townsend. The colonel, identified by the last name Rodriguez, said he would take them inside to confirm Montesinos’ detention but was then ordered away by superior officers, the legislators said.

A general later provided a written statement insisting that Montesinos was not a prisoner at the base.

Meanwhile, some politicians and experts on intelligence matters said they had heard that the spy chief had taken refuge in the security headquarters with military allies and his personal security force, which is said to number in the hundreds. Montesinos was said to be negotiating with the administration and armed forces command to avoid retribution by his political foes, according to those sources.

The uncertainty exacerbated doubts about the position of the armed forces, especially army chiefs who were reportedly handpicked by Montesinos and graduated from military school with him.

Although the armed forces have alarmed some observers because they have not made a public statement of support for the president, the justice minister said the military remains loyal and under control.