Also mighty interesting timing, isn't it?? What or who is he scared of? I doubt it's Lori Berenson...... David Goldman Nov 21, 2000 - 01:40 PM Fujimori Says He Wants to Stay in Japan By Joji Sakurai Associated Press Writer TOKYO (AP) - Plagued by fraud allegations and a disgruntled public back home, Alberto Fujimori said Tuesday he wants to stay in Japan. "I should be here for a long time," he told a news conference at the Tokyo hotel where he has been holed up since last week. "Now, I am going to the Foreign Ministry to make it official." Fujimori, who announced his resignation as Peru's president Monday after arriving in Japan from a summit in Brunei, did not say why he decided to remain in Japan, but maintained it has "nothing to do with the scandal" darkening the close of his rule. "I have no accounts in foreign countries," he said, apparently referring to suspicions he may be implicated in the millions of dollars his former spymaster, Vladimiro Montesinos, allegedly stole from state coffers. Fujimori apologized for the "confusion" he caused by his resignation, but had little to say about why he decided to step down, saying the reasons would be made public some day. Speculation has been widespread that Fujimori would seek political asylum in Japan, his ancestral homeland, or another country, and his comments Wednesday hinted that he may have something to fear if he returns. "I want to go back (to Peru) some day, but I don't know when," Fujimori said. Fujimori, in Japan on a diplomatic passport and visa, stressed that he is not requesting asylum. Japanese officials also said Fujimori had not requested asylum. They said they had not heard of any plans for Fujimori to stay indefinitely. The son of impoverished Japanese immigrants who picked cotton for a living, Fujimori traveled to Japan several times during his presidency and has close ties with the Tokyo government. His son, Hiro, lives in Japan, as do his sister and brother-in-law, who is Peru's ambassador to Tokyo. He said Wednesday that his daughter, Keiko Sofia, would probably stay in Lima. According to Japanese immigration lawyer Naoya Wada, children born abroad to Japanese parents retain the right to citizenship automatically only until they are 22 years old. But Fujimori's status as a person of Japanese descent would ensure him favorable treatment if he chose to apply for naturalization, Wada said. The application process typically takes six months to a year. -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> <FONT COLOR="#000099">eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! </FONT><A HREF="http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/2/_/475667/_/974835849/"><B>Click Here!</B></A> ---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
