Mr. Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, 1000-8968 JAPAN
Fax: 81-3-3581-3883

Mr. Daizo Nozawa
Minister of Justice
1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8977 JAPAN
Fax: +81-3-3592-7393

Mr. Howard H. Baker Jr.
U.S. Ambassador
1-10-5 Asasak, Minato-ku
Tokyo 107-8420 JAPAN
Fax: (03) 3505-1862

Dear [INSERT NAME HERE]

Alberto Fujimori was president of the Republic of Peru from 1990 to 2000. Throughout his presidency, security forces under Mr. Fujimori’s control committed grave human rights abuses, including extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, torture, and violations of rights in the administration of justice.

On September 5, 2001, Mr. Fujimori was indicted for the 1991 murder of 15 people in Barrios Altos, as well as the 1992 forced disappearance and murder of nine students and a professor of La Cantuta University. Based on strong evidence that Mr. Fujimori was fully aware of the existence of the Colina Group “death squad” allegedly responsible for the above-referenced crimes Peru’s, the Supreme Court of Justice ordered the detention of Mr. Fujimori on September 12, 2001. On July 31, 2003, Peru made a formal extradition request with 700 pages of supporting documents to Japan. In spite of meetings between Peruvian and Japanese officials in February of 2004, Japan has to date refused to extradite Mr. Fujimori. Peru is currently preparing to take its extradition case to the International Court of Justice. Interpol issued a warrant for Mr. Fujimori’s arrest in March 2003; he remains on Interpol’s most wanted list.

Many of the human rights violations which occurred during Mr. Fujimori’s ten years in office are cases of torture and ill-treatment. States such as Japan which have ratified the UN Convention against Torture and other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment are obliged under Article 7(1) of the treaty to extradite anyone found in its jurisdiction accused of committing torture. Failure to fulfill this obligation is a violation of international law.

Human rights abuses committed under the government of Alberto Fujimori also constitute crimes against humanity under international law. These crimes include the systematic or widespread practice of murder, torture and forced disappearances. All states, including Japan, are under an obligation to exercise universal jurisdiction to prosecute and punish such crimes and to cooperate in the detention, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons implicated in these crimes.

I strongly urge the Government of Japan, in accordance with international law, to promptly extradite Alberto Fujimori to Peru for trial. I hope that the government of Japan will show the international community that they are at the forefront of human rights protection and promotion. In doing so, Japan will help break the cycle of impunity that negates the values of justice and leads to further human rights violations.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME HERE]

 Sample Advocacy Letter  
Request for the Extradition of Alberto Fujimori