Fujimori Took The Plunge

At last Mr. Fujimori will run the election in July.

By KANA INAGAKI Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/Santiago Llanquin
TOKYO (AP)

-- Disgraced Peruvian ex-President Alberto Fujimori will run in the July election for Japan's parliament despite being under house arrest in Chile, he said Thursday via telephone with the head of his Japanese political party.

Fujimori said he had accepted the request to run for the People's New Party in the upper house elections in a talk with party chief Shizuka Kamei.

"I will run as a proportional representational candidate for the People's New Party to work for Asian diplomacy, on the North Korea problem and for the safety of the Japanese public," Fujimori said in a phone conversation that Kamei hooked a speaker to so the audience in Tokyo could hear it.

Kamei said he wanted Fujimori - who holds Japanese citizenship - to put "his knowledge, rich experience and reputation" to use in Japan. "I strongly hope Mr. Fujimori, as the last samurai, will add vigor to today's Japanese society, which lacks courage, confidence and benevolence," he said.

Fujimori, 68, is under house arrest in Chile. Neighboring Peru wants to try him on charges including bribery, misuse of government funds and sanctioning death squad killings during his decade-long rule, which ended in 2000.
The PNP plans to ask the Foreign Ministry and the Japanese government to help ensure Fujimori can engage in electoral activities, and requests that Chile allow him to return, Kamei said.