Former President Alberto Fujimori’s death has ignited controversy and divided opinions in Peru, where he was convicted of corruption and severe human rights abuses during his time in office. The Peruvian government declared a three-day period of national mourning following Fujimori’s passing, with President Dina Boluarte signing a decree for the mourning period.
Fujimori’s body will be laid in the Ministry of Culture in Lima before being moved to a cemetery in the capital. His death has reignited debates over his legacy, with supporters crediting him for stabilizing the economy and defeating the Shining Path rebel group, while critics highlight his authoritarianism and human rights violations.
Fujimori’s administration oversaw a brutal counterinsurgency campaign that left thousands dead in Peru’s civil war, along with alleged forced sterilizations targeting women in Indigenous regions. He fled to Japan in 2000 after a corruption scandal involving his intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, and was later extradited to Peru in 2007. Fujimori was convicted in 2009 for ordering killings and kidnappings during his presidency.
Despite his controversial legacy, Fujimori’s daughter, Keiko, announced in July that her father would run for president in 2026. The news of Fujimori’s death coinciding with the anniversary of Shining Path leader Abimael Guzmán’s passing in 2021 has sparked sarcastic comments on social media, highlighting the deep divides that still exist in Peruvian society regarding Fujimori’s rule.
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