Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori will run for a seat
in Japan's Upper House elections, he said yesterday, in a decision
which could have implications for his extradition case in
Chile.
Fujimori, who ruled Peru from 1990-2000, is under house arrest
in the Chilean capital Santiago awaiting a court ruling in the
extradition case.
Peru wants him sent to Lima to stand trial for alleged
embezzlement and human rights abuses dating from his rule.
In an interview at his residence in Santiago, 68-year-old
Fujimori said he had accepted the invitation from the tiny Japanese
opposition People's New Party to stand in the July 29 poll.
Fujimori, who is of Japanese descent and spent five years in
Japan from 2000-05, said he had taken his decision after deep
analysis and reflection, and that it had nothing to do with
extradition proceedings against him.
"Naturally this is a decision that has been well thought-out and
meditated upon," he said.
In an earlier interview with Japan's Nippon Television Network,
Fujimori said he wanted to "use my 10 years' experience as
president for Japan and the world".
"I want to resolve Asia diplomacy issues, in particular North
Korea and the abduction problem," he added. "That is my hope. I
think I can do it."
It was not immediately clear what the implications would be for
the extradition case if Fujimori were to win office.
A Peruvian state official said last week the election move was a
ploy to avoid extradition and a sign the former president was
desperate.
Fujimori denied there was a connection between his candidacy and
the extradition process.
"I shall continue (fighting) the extradition process until the
end, with a well-sustained defense, because I did a good job over
the 10 years (of government) and I have the results to prove it,"
he said.
Fujimori went into exile in Japan in 2000 when his government
collapsed under the weight of a huge corruption scandal. His
parents were born in Japan and he has dual Peruvian-Japanese
citizenship.
He was arrested in Chile in November 2005 and has been at the
center of a protracted legal process since then.
(China Daily via agencies June 29, 2007)
