Former Peruvian President, Alberto Fujimori, who governed with an iron fist and spent 16 years in prison for crimes against humanity, passed away at 86 in Lima on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.
Fujimori, who led the country from 1990 to 2000, was released on humanitarian grounds in December, two-thirds of the way through his 25-year sentence.
His children, Keiko, Hiro, Sachie, and Kenji, announced his passing on social media, sharing: “After a long battle with cancer, our father, Alberto Fujimori, has just departed to meet the Lord.”
During his presidency, Fujimori was a key figure in Peru’s brutal war on terrorism, which saw government forces fight against the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru rebels. The conflict left over 69,000 people dead and 21,000 missing, mostly civilians.
His crackdown on insurgency earned him praise for stabilizing the economy and confronting leftist rebels but also condemnation for human rights abuses.
Keiko Fujimori, his daughter and a three-time presidential candidate, announced that a wake would be held at the National Museum, with his burial planned for Saturday.
The Peruvian government declared three days of national mourning and announced that Fujimori would receive “funeral honors that correspond to a president in office.”
Fujimori’s health had been in sharp decline after completing treatment for tongue cancer in August, and his death has reignited debate about his controversial legacy. While his supporters lauded his efforts to combat terrorism and stabilize the country, opponents decried his autocratic style and the human rights violations committed under his watch.
Fujimori was convicted in 2009 for his role in army death squad massacres that claimed 25 lives, including children, during anti-terrorist operations in the early 1990s. He also faced criticism for handling a dramatic hostage crisis at the Japanese embassy in 1997, during which he ordered a commando raid that resulted in the deaths of 14 rebels and the rescue of 72 hostages.
After his presidency, Fujimori fled to Japan in self-imposed exile and eventually resigned via fax. He was later arrested in Chile and extradited to Peru, where he stood trial for his crimes. Despite his controversial record, Fujimori remains a polarizing figure, credited by many with helping to lay the foundations for Peru’s economic progress.
