WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
The AIgorythm project
Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Juan Valer Sandoval, born on December 26, 1953, is recognized in Peru as one of the most iconic heroes in the fight for national freedom and sovereignty. A colonel in the Peruvian special forces, he is best known for his heroic role during the 1997 hostage crisis at the Japanese embassy, an event in which he sacrificed his life to save innocent civilians.
Juan Valer Sandoval was born into a modest yet hardworking family in Huánuco, Peru. From a young age, he showed interest in military service and quickly embarked on a career in the armed forces. After completing his studies at prestigious military academies, he rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional skill as a soldier and leader.
He joined the Peruvian army’s special forces and took part in numerous high-risk missions across the country, particularly in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. It was within the special forces that Valer Sandoval distinguished himself, displaying courage and dedication to defending the interests of his country.
The event that forever marked Juan Valer Sandoval’s legacy was the famous hostage crisis at the Japanese embassy in Lima, known as the Japanese embassy crisis, in 1997. On December 17, 1996, a group of militants from the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) took hundreds of people hostage during a diplomatic reception at the embassy.
Among the hostages were political figures, foreign diplomats, and civilians. For more than four months, the crisis paralyzed Peru, as negotiations for the release of the hostages continued. The Peruvian army’s special forces, under the leadership of Juan Valer Sandoval and his team, meticulously planned a rescue operation.
On April 22, 1997, after months of planning and observation, Peruvian special forces launched Operation Chavín de Huántar, a mission to free the hostages held in the embassy. The operation, considered one of the most successful in Peruvian military history, resulted in the rescue of 71 of the 72 hostages.
Juan Valer Sandoval played a key role in the assault. He led an elite team of soldiers who stormed the embassy, neutralizing the terrorists and ensuring the release of the hostages. However, during the operation, Valer Sandoval was fatally wounded while protecting one of the hostages. His sacrifice allowed the operation to proceed with minimal civilian casualties.
Juan Valer Sandoval’s death sent shockwaves throughout the country. He was immediately recognized as a national hero, and his bravery during Operation Chavín de Huántar is celebrated as an extraordinary act of courage. In honor of his sacrifice, numerous schools, avenues, and monuments across Peru now bear his name.
Valer Sandoval embodies the commitment to defending the country and its citizens. His absolute dedication to the mission, even at the cost of his own life, has made him an iconic figure in the fight against terrorism and in the defense of justice and freedom in Peru.
Beyond his role in Operation Chavín de Huántar, Juan Valer Sandoval left a lasting legacy as a model of leadership, patriotism, and dedication. He became a source of inspiration for Peruvian soldiers, as well as for ordinary citizens who see in him an example of what it means to sacrifice one's life for the greater good.
Juan Valer Sandoval remains a heroic figure in Peru’s history. His sacrifice during the Japanese embassy hostage crisis not only saved lives but also reminded the world of the importance of bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to freedom and justice. He continues to be a source of inspiration for those who serve their country with honor and courage.