Peru's ousted president plots political comeback

TOKYO -- Defiant in the face of an extradition request, former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori dismissed murder charges against him back home as baseless Thursday and declared his intention to re-enter Peruvian politics.

Just hours after Peruvian authorities formally petitioned Japan to deport him, a relaxed and smiling Fujimori told The Associated Press he is "completely innocent."

The former leader said he would return to Peru someday -- not to stand trial but to head a new political party that he launched this week through supporters in his South American homeland.

"I wonder why we are having this extradition process," the deposed leader said in an exclusive interview at AP's offices. "Maybe the Peruvian government and Peruvian politicians wouldn't like that Alberto Fujimori may come back by his own will to lead a political organization."

During his 10-year presidency, Fujimori's tough, authoritarian rule was credited with shoring up Peru's broken economy, crushing a leftist rebel movement and attracting foreign investment. But he is accused of doing this through corruption and death squads.

He fled to his parents' homeland in November 2000 as his government collapsed in a corruption scandal, and was quickly granted Japanese citizenship.

Peru's ambassador to Japan, Luis J. Macchiavello, submitted a three-volume, 700-page request to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday asking that Fujimori be extradited.

"Mr. Fujimori is using his Japanese nationality with the only purpose of evading justice in his own country," Macchiavello told a news conference. "He must be investigated and tried."

As a Japanese citizen, Fujimori, 65, is shielded from extradition. The government says it does not deport citizens, even criminals, to countries such as Peru with which Japan does not share an extradition treaty. Legal experts say Japan has no obligation to reply to Peru's petition.

There was no indication the government would be swayed.

"As we have repeatedly said, we will respond according to our domestic laws," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said after Peru's petition was delivered. "In principle, we will not extradite any alleged criminals if they are Japanese citizens."

The Peruvian government wants Fujimori to face numerous charges, including murder, embezzlement and treason.

The extradition request applies only to the murder charges and is meant to boost the diplomatic pressure on Japan.

Among other allegations, it links Fujimori to killings committed by a paramilitary death squad known as the "Colina Group," which has been tied to the massacre of 15 people in 1991 and the kidnapping and murder of nine students and a professor from La Cantuta University the following year.

Fujimori said he is innocent of all charges against him and feels no need to respond to them.

"I have nothing to do with these crimes," he said. "During these three years of political persecution there has not been a single piece of proof."

When asked if he would be willing to let a Japanese or international court rule on his innocence, he replied: "But why? I have been informed from a very close source that there's not one line in these 700 pages that makes me responsible for these condemnable crimes."

Fujimori said his new political party -- Si Cumple, or "Yes, he fulfills promises" -- has yet to establish an office because of a lack of funds, but argued it is already a viable political force.

"We are probably now the strongest political party in Peru," he said, claiming he has wide support, especially among Indians and lower classes.

He declined to say if he would run in Peru's 2006 presidential election or talk about any specific political plans.

Peru's government believes the extradition request contains enough evidence to convince Japan that Fujimori should be handed over for a criminal trial despite his Japanese citizenship.

"For us, Fujimori is a Peruvian citizen," Macchiavello said. "It's as simple as that."

Asked about his dual citizenship, Fujimori said: "I have a right to hold Japanese nationality. Obviously, I also have many links with Peru."