The Japanese government is facing mounting pressure from the Peruvian government for the extradition of former President Alberto Fujimori, who has been in exile in Japan since November 2000. Last March, Interpol issued an arrest warrant for the disgraced former leader and late last month, the Peruvian government submitted a formal request to the Japanese government for his extradition. So far Tokyo has refused to hand Fujimori over to Lima on the grounds that he holds Japanese citizenship.
If Japan continues to refuse the extradition request, Fujimori must be investigated and tried under Japanese law. The Japanese government and justice authorities face tough tests over how to deal with the issue.
Japanese law bans the extradition of a fugitive from justice who is a Japanese national if there is no bilateral extradition treaty with the country involved. However, Fujimori is not a common fugitive but a former president. He should not be allowed to evade justice in Peru just because he is a Japanese. Peru is threatening to take the case to the International Court of Justice.