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Disgraced Peruvian Ex-President Gets New Passport in Japan
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=EFA73D:3919ACA

Observers say move indicates Alberto Fujimori plans to return from
self-imposed exile to run in next year's presidential election





Former Peruvian President Albert Fujimori shows his Peruvian passport
There are indications in Japan that former Peruvian President Alberto
Fujimori, is making moves to return from self-imposed exile to run in
next year's presidential election. The controversial politician
received a new Peruvian passport on Wednesday.

Peru has been demanding Japan extradite the disgraced Peruvian
president since he fled his country in late 2000, faxing his
resignation from a Tokyo hotel. A year later, Peru's Congress banned
Alberto Fujimori from holding public office for 10 years.

Despite this, however, there has been speculation that Mr. Fujimori -
who is of Japanese descent and received Japanese citizenship since
fleeing Peru - wants to make a political comeback next year.

That speculation was fueled Wednesday here in Japan, when the
ex-president obtained a new Peruvian passport.



Mr. Fujimori himself has encouraged the notion in his communications
with Peruvians via a Japan-based website. In one of his latest audio
postings, he sounds like he is campaigning.

Mr. Fujimori says 2006 will define Peru's future. He says Peru's
voters and politicians have a responsibility to make next year's
election an opportunity for reconciliation and stability.



Officials at Peru's Foreign Ministry in Lima say Mr. Fujimori legally
obtained a passport. But they dismissed the importance of it, saying
he is still hiding behind his Japanese nationality to escape criminal
prosecution.

If the former president chooses to return to Peru he faces more than
20 criminal counts, including corruption and his alleged involvement
in the military's killings of civilians.

Despite an arrest warrant issued by the international police agency
Interpol, Japan has declined to extradite the former Peruvian
president.

Mr. Fujimori has denied the criminal allegations, calling them
trumped-up charges to prevent him from running again. Opinion polls in
Peru show that the ex-president, who governed for 10 years, remains
popular.


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