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Related: Fujimori's arrival in Chile triggers tension with Japan
Chile removes 2 police officers over Fujimori's entry
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| Demonstrators hold a sign with
the image of the former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori at the
entrance of the judicial police academy in Santiago, Chile, Nov. 8,
2005. (Xinhua/AFP
photo) |
SANTIAGO, Nov. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Chile's Supreme Court said on Tuesday it had refused bail to former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori as Peru began to try to extradite him.
Fujimori, 67, was arrested on Monday after arriving
in Santiagoon a private flight from Japan. The former leader said he was on the
way to launch a campaign for the Peruvian elections next April. He is being held
in a school which belongs to Chile's prison authority.
The arrest was ordered by Chilean Supreme Court judge
Orlando Alvarez upon the request of the Peruvian government.
Alvarez said it is not appropriate to release
Fujimori on bail in 60 days during which the Chilean supreme court plans to
examine Lima's extradition request.
The two countries have not reached an agreement on
Fujimoli's fate. Peru pressed for an extradition while the Chilean
governmentconsidered certain legal procedures should be run, which would take
about two months.
Peruvian prosecutors want to try Fujimori on 21
charges, including corruption, conspiracy, and kidnapping, torturing and
murdering political opponents. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 35
years.
Analysts in Chile say Fujimori was confident that the
supreme court would not authorize his extradition.
Fujimori's lawyer Cesar Nakasaki arrived in Chile
from Lima on Tuesday. The lawyer said he was sure that the Chilean judicial
branch would be impartial.
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| Police officers detain a
Peruvian resident in Chile who protested against former Peruvian President
Alberto Fujimori outside of the entrance of the judicial police academy in
Santiago, Chile, Nov. 8, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP
photo) | Chilean courts would likely block Peru's
extradition request, as they did before for former Argentine President Carlos
Menem, said Nakasaki.
Several members of Chilean President Ricardo Lagos'
Socialist party insisted, however, that Fujimori should be expelled from Chile.
They expressed concerns the case could strain Chile's relations with Peru
further when the two countries have disputes over maritime borders.
Fujimori had been in exile in Japan since fleeing
Peru in 2000 after his 10-year presidency collapsed. Tokyo had been reluctant to
hand him over to Peru, citing Fujimori's Japanese citizenship.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday Japan
wants to be informed of Fujimori's condition because "he has a Japanese
nationality." Enditem |