The Japanese government has asked the Peruvian government to clarify the nationality of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, according to the local daily El Comercio on Saturday.

The newspaper quoted Peruvian Judge Jose Lecaros, who is in charge of the Fujimori case, as saying, "Japan's petition opens possibility that the fugitive ex-president be brought to trial with transparency and impartiality."

According to the newspaper, this shows "a change in the Japanese government, which has until recently refused to address the issue," which means the extradition petition presented in July last year by the Peruvian judiciary.

The judge repeated that the Peruvian judiciary has sufficient evidence to prove "Fujimori's responsibility in masterminding the massacres of Barrios Altos and La Cantuta University" and therefore is justified to request the extradition of Fujimori.

Fujimori, who ruled Peru between 1990 and 2000, is now living in Japan. In July 2003 the Peruvian justice requested his extradition on charges of human rights abuses that involved 25 lives and were allegedly committed by the paramilitary group Colina under presidential orders between 1991 and 1992.

Japan has refused to extradite Fujimori, who holds dual Peruvian-Janpanese citizenship and said it is still evaluating Peru's request.

Source: Xinhua