Peru Declares National Mourning for Controversial Leader Alberto Fujimori

Peru's government has declared three days of national mourning following the death of former President Alberto Fujimori. Despite his convictions for human rights abuses and corruption, he will receive a state funeral. Fujimori, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000 with an increasingly authoritarian approach, passed away from cancer on Wednesday in Lima.

Fujimori's coffin was transported to the Ministry of Culture on Thursday, where it will lie in state until Saturday. Riot police and around 50 supporters accompanied the hearse through Lima's streets. His children, Keiko and Kenji, followed the flag-draped coffin into the ministry, where they were met by President Dina Boluarte.

Government's Decision to Honour Fujimori

The government's decision to honour Fujimori included an order for all flags on public buildings to be flown at half-staff. This decision was published in the federal register on Thursday. Fujimori, a former university president and mathematics professor, rose to prominence by winning Peru's 1990 elections against writer Mario Vargas Llosa.

Fujimori inherited a country plagued by runaway inflation and guerrilla violence. He implemented bold economic reforms, including mass privatizations of state industries, and defeated the Shining Path communist rebels, gaining widespread support. However, his political career ended in disgrace after he fled the country in 2000 amid a bribery scandal involving his spy chief.

Controversial Legacy

Fujimori's legacy remains controversial. In 2009, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for orchestrating the killings of 25 Peruvians during the government's fight against the Shining Path. Despite his convictions, he remained a polarising figure throughout his life.

Following his family's announcement of his death at age 86, dozens of supporters gathered outside the house where he died, singing songs praising his government. Businessman César Aquije held a sign reading "gratitude, engineer Alberto Fujimori" next to a heart in Peru's flag colours. "I remember the schools he built and the roads," Aquije said.

Criticism and Support

However, not everyone shared this sentiment. Gisela Ortiz, whose brother was among the 25 people killed during Fujimori's regime, criticised both him and the government's decision to honour him. "Fujimori dies, convicted of human rights violations and corruption, and a murderous government like the one in the '90s pays tribute to him," Ortiz posted on X.

President Boluarte has faced significant political challenges since taking office in December 2022. She has survived seven attempts by Parliament to remove her from office, thanks to support from a coalition of political groups, including the party led by Fujimori's children.

Health Struggles

Oncologist José Gutiérrez revealed that Fujimori suffered from tongue cancer that spread to his lungs after surgery for a hip fracture in July. In December, Peru's Constitutional Court upheld a humanitarian pardon granted to Fujimori on Christmas Eve 2017 by then-President Pablo Kuczynski.

Fujimori was last seen publicly on September 4 as he left a hospital in a wheelchair. He told reporters he had undergone a CT scan and smiled when asked about his planned 2026 presidential candidacy, saying, "We'll see, we'll see."

The decision to grant Fujimori a state funeral has sparked mixed reactions across Peru. While some remember him for his economic reforms and defeat of guerrilla forces, others cannot forget his human rights abuses and corruption scandals.