Peru / Japan: Alberto Fujimori must be brought to justice for human rights violations
Today the Peruvian government is submitting an extradition request to the Japanese authorities for former President
Alberto Fujimori. Amnesty International is calling upon the Japanese government to stop turning a blind eye to
Fumitori's responsibility for human rights violations committed in Peru during his presidency.
Amnesty International is urging the Japanese authorities to either return Alberto Fujimori to Peru -- where judicial
proceedings have been started against him -- or to open an investigation in Japan into his responsibility for the human
rights violations committed under his presidency.
"The Japanese government cannot -- and must not -- shy away from its obligation to cooperate in bringing to justice
Peru's former president, Alberto Fujimori, currently in Japan, who has been indicted in Peru on human rights charges,"
Amnesty International said today.
"The widespread and systematic human rights violations committed in Peru during Alberto Fujimori's presidency amount to
crimes against humanity, over which any state has the ability and responsibility to exercise universal jurisdiction. All
states are under the obligation to prosecute and punish anyone responsible for such crimes and to cooperate in their
detection, arrest and punishment," Amnesty International continued.
Throughout Alberto Fujimori's ten-year presidency (1990-2000), torture and ill-treatment were widespread in Peru, and
hundreds of people "disappeared" or were extrajudicially executed. Members of Peru's armed forces, including Alberto
Fujimori's intelligence adviser Vladimiro Montesinos and members of the "Grupo Colina", a death squad attached to the
intelligence services during Fujimori's presidency, are currently in detention facing charges including human rights
violations. However, Alberto Fujimori has yet to be brought before a court.
"By helping to ensure Alberto Fujimori is brought to justice, Japan will contribute to breaking the cycle of impunity
which makes a mockery of truth and justice. Failure to do so can only lead to further human rights violations by showing
that those responsible are not held to account," Amnesty International stressed.
Background
Alberto Fujimori, has been in exile in Japan since fleeing Peru in November 2000. In September 2001 a judge of the
Supreme Court of Justice of Peru ordered his detention on the basis that there is strong evidence suggesting that he had
full knowledge of the existence of the Grupo Colina, the death squad attached to Peru's Intelligence Service - allegedly
responsible for at least two cases of "disappearances" and extrajudicial executions resulting in the death of 25 people.
Local Human Rights organizations as well as victims and relatives of human rights violations committed during his regime
have been calling the Japanese authorities to return him to Peru to face trial.
View all documents on Peru at http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabiWaaaZvJrbb0hPub/
View all documents on Japan at http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabiWaaaZvJsbb0hPub/