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Statements Archive |
LAST UPDATE July
11, 2007 |
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| July 11, 2007 |
Peace Boat Statement Calling for Fujimori's Immediate
Return to Peru to be Tried for His Responsibility in Massacres and other Human
Rights Violations |
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1.Suspected guilty of serious crimes,
Fujimori should be facing not the Japanese Diet but the Peruvian court
2.The international community is questioning the sincerity of Japan's stance regarding
observation of the law and confrontation of serious crimes
3.The People's New Party must immediately cease any activities inhibiting justice,
such as moves to bring Fujimori to Japan
4.Should Fujimori enter Japan, the Japanese government must respect the judicial
processes of Chile and Peru and extradite Fujimori to Peru On June 28, 2007 former
Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori announced his intention to run in Japanese
Upper House elections. Fujimori is, however, wanted by Peruvian authorities to
face charges in relation to serious crimes including murder and forced disappearances
committed during his time as President. Fujimori escaped from prosecution by fleeing
to Japan in November, 2000. During his time in Japan, he continued to ignore a
notice for arrest issued by Interpol (ICPO) and the Supreme Court of Peru, shirking
the proper enforcement of the law. Fujimori entered Chile in November 2006, and
is there currently awaiting a court ruling on Peruvian extradition orders. The
court is expected to reach a decision soon.
Fujimori has been indicted on numerous charges, including involvement in the Barios
Altos massacre (1991) where 15 residents of an apartment complex in a poor suburb
of Peru's capital city Lima were murdered, and the La Cantuta incident (1992)
where nine students and a professor were abducted and killed. Families of the
victims have been crying out for justice for over 15 years.
It has been reported that one of Fujimori's campaign pledges is to work through
the North Korean (DPRK) abduction issue, however Fujimori himself has been charged
by Peruvian courts with involvement in abductions in Peru. With the support of
the military, Fujimori carried out a coup and ruled briefly as dictator. Even
after democracy was restored, Fujimori used the National Intelligence Service
and the Supreme Court to oppress opposition, and went as far as to create a biased
electoral system. Additionally, after Fujimori's fall from power it came to light
that corruption within his government was of an extent rarely seen in the history
of Peru. With this kind of record, what can Fujimori really do for democracy in
Japan as a member of the Upper House? Fujimori must realize that he should be
going not to the Japanese Diet, but to the Peruvian courts.
Fujimori retained his status as president throughout the coup, and fled to Japan
to escape charges of inciting abduction and murder. The international society
is watching how Japanese society will deal with a person suspected of such violations
of law and human rights.
Numerous countries including Germany and Italy have announced that if Fujimori
enters their country, he will be held and extradited. International human rights
groups*1, international bodies such as the EU Parliament*2 and Parlamento Latinoamericano*3,
NGOs such as Transparency International*4 and internationally renowned individuals*5
have repeatedly called for Fujimori's extradition and prosecution. Regarding the
aforementioned La Cantuta incident, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights concluded
that crimes committed by the death squads could not have happened without the
knowledge or orders from Fujimori and high level officials of the government and
military, and note that the main reason justice has not been served is because
Fujimori has not faced trial*6. Additionally, in early June, Chilean prosecutors
turned in a formal statement saying that of 13 of Peru's extradition requests,
12 do warrant extradition (the one which does not having been judged to have exceeded
the statute of limitations). The Barios Altos massacre and La Cantuta incident
are included in these 13 requests. Despite this, many people in Japan continue
to irresponsibly insist that legal action against Fujimori is unfounded.
During Fujimori's stay in Japan, the citizens and government of Japan did very
little to help realize justice in Peru. Japan has in fact been an obstacle for
those Peruvians seeking justice. While the extradition process continues in Chile,
Japan should at least not act to hinder the proper development of this process.
It has been reported that Shizuka Kamei, deputy leader of the People's New Party
met with Foreign Minister Aso at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request the
Japanese government to put pressure on the Chilean government to enable Fujimori
to leave Chile. This act of openly intervening in the legal processes of another
country, and assisting impunity for crimes in violation of human rights is not
acceptable under international law, and moreover should not be accepted on moral
grounds.
In relation to the extradition trial of Fujimori in Chile, the Japanese government's
stance is to oversee the legal processes, which we welcome. Whatever decision
the Chilean court makes regarding the extradition of Fujimori, the Japanese government,
either officially or unofficially, should not pressure the Chilean government
in any way. As Japanese citizens, we must continue to monitor the actions of the
Japanese government so that such interference does not happen. Moreover, if Fujimori
for whatever reason comes back to Japan, he should be extradited to Peru as requested
by the Peruvian government. Japan should not be allowed under any circumstances
to continue to provide Fujimori, who is trying to escape to Japan to avoid being
forced to take responsibility for his actions, with a safe refuge.
Notes:
*1 For example, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, FIDK etc.
*2 EU resolution RC-B6-0055/2206 (January 19, 2006)
*3 Parlamento Latinoamericano resolution (November 30, 2001)
*4 International NGO working to prevent corruption. The head office is located
in Berlin.
*5 According to reports, former US president Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize winner
Adolfo Perez Esquivel (Argentinian human rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner),
ex-Costa Rican president Oscar Arias (Nobel Peace Prize winner), Gu"nter Grass
(German writer, Nobel Prize winner) have sent letters asking for Fujimori's extradition.
*6 Paragraph number 96 and paragraph number 147 of the the November 26, 2006 Inter-American
Court of Human Rights ruling on the La Cantuta incident . Full judgment can be
downloaded in English and Spanish from the website below
http://www.corteidh.or.cr/casos.cfm
The Japan Network for Bringing Justice to Fujimori
Network Members:
Human Rights and Justice in Peru Kansai group
Amnesty International Japan
Peace Boat Peru Campaign 2001
Peru Democratization Solidarity Network (RESODEP)
Reference:
Bring Justice to Fujimori -- Bringing Justice for Victims of Massacre in Peru-
(Japanese) Edited by the Japan Network for Bringing Justice to Fujimori, published
by Gendai Jinbunsha (GENJIN), 2004
For more information on the international notice for the arrest of
former President Fujimori:
http://www.interpol.int/public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2003/PR200305.asp |
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