Néstor Cerpa Cartolini (14 August 1953 – 22 April 1997) was a member, then leader of the Peruvian Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA).
Following the release of the survivors in late 1979, Cerpa organized a sit-in at the United Nations communications office in Lima.
[4] After his return to Peru, and following the capture of Victor Polay, Cerpa became the most prominent leader within the MRTA and one of the few publicly known faces within the movement.
The government rejected the demands, and on 22 April 1997, after 126 days, a 140-man team of commandos of the Peruvian Armed Forces stormed the Japanese ambassador's residence to rescue all the hostages.
On 24 April 1997, Cerpa's body was interred without ceremony in Nueva Esperanza Cemetery, located in the Lima suburb of Villa María del Triunfo.