The funeral of former President Alberto Fujimori in Peru has sparked debate over his legacy, as well-wishers and detractors gathered to commemorate his life. Fujimori, affectionately known as “Chino” due to his Japanese heritage, was credited by many Peruvians for stabilizing the economy and dismantling the Maoist rebel group Shining Path during his rule in the 1990s. However, others see him as a corrupt and authoritarian figure responsible for human rights abuses that scarred the country’s democracy.
Fujimori was convicted in 2009 for his role in the murder of 25 people by government death squads during his tenure. Despite his conviction, a Peruvian court released him in December due to his age, defying an order from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. His government also carried out a self-coup in 1992, shutting down the legislature and judiciary, and oversaw a campaign of forced sterilization targeting women in Indigenous rural areas. The violence from the fight against Shining Path has left lasting scars on Peru, with nearly 70,000 people estimated to have been killed during the conflict.
Despite his controversial legacy, Fujimori’s role in ending terrorism in Peru has garnered some support from those who believe his repressive tactics were necessary to combat the insurgent group. Many Peruvians are willing to overlook his abuses in the fight against Shining Path, choosing to remember him as the leader who brought an end to the violence that plagued the country. Fujimori’s dramatic rise to power in the 1990 presidential election, where he defeated national hero Mario Vargas Llosa, was matched by his fall from grace amidst corruption scandals and government atrocities.
Fujimori’s resignation from Japan via fax in 2000, following the emergence of footage showing his spy chief distributing cash to officials, marked the end of his political career. The funeral in Lima attracted a mix of supporters and critics, with his daughter Keiko Fujimori delivering a speech in front of a large photo of her father. While some mourned his passing and acknowledged his achievements, others condemned the state funeral as a tribute to a convicted criminal responsible for serious crimes against the people of Peru. The debate over Fujimori’s legacy continues to divide the nation and raise questions about the country’s dark past under his rule.
