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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Judge blocks Fujimori extradition | Judge blocks Fujimori extradition |
| (1 day later) | |
| A Chilean judge has ruled Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori should not be extradited to Peru. | |
| Mr Fujimori has been accused of human rights violations and corruption by Peru's prosecutors, but the judge said the evidence was not strong enough. | |
| Peru's government immediately said it would appeal against the judge's decision, which also has to be confirmed by Chile's Supreme Court. | Peru's government immediately said it would appeal against the judge's decision, which also has to be confirmed by Chile's Supreme Court. |
| Mr Fujimori, the son of Japanese emigres to Peru, welcomed the decision. | |
| He denies all the charges against him. | |
| The judge, Orlando Alvarez, said the evidence presented by the Peruvian authorities was unconvincing. | |
| On the most serious charges - of sanctioning extra-judicial killings, the judge said "it was not proved that Mr Fujimori ordered or had even the least knowledge beforehand of the killings". | |
| 'Mutual interest' | 'Mutual interest' |
| President of Peru from 1990 to 2000, Mr Fujimori was praised for reviving the country's collapsing economy and curbing political violence. | President of Peru from 1990 to 2000, Mr Fujimori was praised for reviving the country's collapsing economy and curbing political violence. |
| But critics accuse him of crushing Peru's democratic institutions and committing human rights abuses. | But critics accuse him of crushing Peru's democratic institutions and committing human rights abuses. |
| There has been a very regrettable administrative mistake Alfredo EtcheverryLawyer for Peru's government class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6295160.stm">Readers react to ruling | |
| A lawyer for Peru's government, Alfredo Etcheverry, expressed surprise at the decision. | A lawyer for Peru's government, Alfredo Etcheverry, expressed surprise at the decision. |
| "I do... think there has been a very regrettable administrative mistake, because it has manifested itself in a case this important and that had so much publicity," he said. | "I do... think there has been a very regrettable administrative mistake, because it has manifested itself in a case this important and that had so much publicity," he said. |
| But Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the ruling would not affect relations with Peru as the two countries were united "by an agenda of co-operation and mutual interest". | But Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the ruling would not affect relations with Peru as the two countries were united "by an agenda of co-operation and mutual interest". |
| In 2000 Mr Fujimori became engulfed in a bribery scandal and fled to Japan, where he had been praised for his handling of a 1996-97 Japanese embassy hostage crisis. | In 2000 Mr Fujimori became engulfed in a bribery scandal and fled to Japan, where he had been praised for his handling of a 1996-97 Japanese embassy hostage crisis. |
| Japan repeatedly refused efforts by the Peruvian government to extradite him on charges that included directing death squads, illegal phone tapping and corruption. | Japan repeatedly refused efforts by the Peruvian government to extradite him on charges that included directing death squads, illegal phone tapping and corruption. |
| But in November 2005 he returned to Chile, hoping to launch a new bid for the Peruvian presidency in 2006 elections, only to be arrested on the request of the Peruvian authorities. | But in November 2005 he returned to Chile, hoping to launch a new bid for the Peruvian presidency in 2006 elections, only to be arrested on the request of the Peruvian authorities. |
| He recently announced his intention to run in this month's Japanese Senate elections, a move his critics said was a ploy to avoid extradition from Chile. | He recently announced his intention to run in this month's Japanese Senate elections, a move his critics said was a ploy to avoid extradition from Chile. |
| Are you in Chile or Peru? What is your reaction to the ruling? Do you think Mr Fujimori should face extradition? Send us your comments. | Are you in Chile or Peru? What is your reaction to the ruling? Do you think Mr Fujimori should face extradition? Send us your comments. |