AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

AI Index: AMR 46/010/2002 (Public)

News Service No: 101

14 June 2002

Peru/Japan: Alberto Fujimori must face justice for human rights violations

The Japanese authorities must cooperate in ensuring that justice is done for the gross human rights violations - including crimes against humanity - committed during Alberto Fujimori's presidency, Amnesty International said today as the Peruvian government announced its decision to request the extradition of the former President, currently exiled in Japan.

"The thousands of victims of gross human rights violations committed in Peru during Alberto Fujimori's time in power deserve justice," the organization said. Human rights violations, including torture, "disappearance" and political killings, were widespread and systematic during Alberto Fujimori's ten-year presidency (1990 -2000), and amounted at times to crimes against humanity.

"The Japanese government cannot -- and must not -- shirk its obligation to cooperate in bringing Alberto Fujimori to justice," Amnesty International added, urging the Japanese authorities to either grant Alberto Fujimori's extradition or to open an investigation into his responsibility for the human rights violations committed under his government.

"Bringing Alberto Fujimori to trial for the gross human rights violations committed during his presidency would send a clear, unequivocal message: nobody is above the law and the abuse of fundamental rights cannot be tolerated," the organization concluded.

Public Document

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