Peru has declared three days of national mourning for former President Alberto Fujimori, who died on September 11, 2024, at the age of 86 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The government, led by President Dina Boluarte, has granted Fujimori state funeral honors, a decision that has sparked controversy given his complex and divisive legacy.Fujimori’s remains are currently on display at the National Museum in Lima, where they will remain until Saturday for public viewing. His children, Keiko and Kenji Fujimori, have been present at the wake, receiving condolences from government officials, including President Boluarte. The scene at the museum has been emotional, with the siblings seen holding hands and breaking down in tears in front of their father’s coffin.The decision to grant state honors has reignited debates about Fujimori’s controversial tenure as president from 1990 to 2000. Supporters praise his economic reforms and efforts against terrorism, with some, like Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga, acknowledging his complex legacy: ‘He was a controversial figure, many people loved him and others hated him, but he was president for over ten years. We cannot deny that he left Peru without terrorism, with peace with Chile, and also with Ecuador’.However, critics point to Fujimori’s human rights abuses and corruption during his rule. Gisela Ortiz, sister of one of the 25 Peruvians killed during Fujimori’s government, expressed her disapproval: ‘He died condemned for violations of human rights and corruption, and a government that killed in the 90s is paying him homage’.Fujimori had been serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and corruption but was released in December 2023 after a controversial humanitarian pardon. His death marks the end of a significant and turbulent era in Peruvian politics, leaving behind a deeply divided public opinion on his legacy as president.
Key points
- Peru declared three days of national mourning for former President Alberto Fujimori.
- Fujimori’s state funeral honors have sparked controversy due to his human rights abuses and corruption convictions.
- Fujimori’s death has reignited debates about his legacy, with supporters praising his economic reforms and critics condemning his authoritarian rule.
Contradictions👾While the government has granted Fujimori state funeral honors, some citizens and human rights activists strongly oppose this decision, citing his convictions for human rights abuses and corruption.
