Alberto Fujimori, Former President of Peru, Passes Away at 86

Alberto Fujimori, the former president of Peru who led his country through economic growth in the 1990s, has died at the age of 86. Close associates of Fujimori reported that his condition was critical on the morning of September 12. The son of Japanese immigrants, Fujimori was not a well-known figure when he became president of an agricultural university in 1990. However, he quickly established himself as a shrewd politician whose methods were effective, although he angered critics with his concentration of power. He managed to control severe inflation that had led to the unemployment of millions of Peruvians, privatized dozens of state-owned companies, reduced trade tariffs, and created conditions for Peru to become one of the most stable economies in Latin America for a time. During his presidency, Abimael Guzmán, the feared leader of the Maoist organization 'Shining Path,' was captured, which dealt a significant blow to a movement that seemed poised to overthrow the Peruvian government in the 1980s. Guzmán died in prison in September 2021. However, after Fujimori dissolved Congress with army tanks in 1992 and changed the constitution to advance free-market reforms, many Peruvians viewed him as a tyrant. Numerous corruption reports during his ten-year rule also turned public opinion against him. He participated in elections for a third term after changing the constitution and won, but shortly after, he fled to Japan following the release of a video showing his chief advisor Vladimiro Montesinos bribing politicians with cash. Fujimori announced his resignation via fax from Japan and later ran for a Senate seat in Japan, which he lost. Montesinos was later arrested in Venezuela. Several legal cases were also filed against Fujimori, accusing him of ordering the use of death squads in the war against 'Shining Path.' Fujimori had full security in Japan due to his dual citizenship, as Japan does not extradite its citizens. Therefore, when he decided to return to Peru in 2005, many were shocked. He apparently hoped to be pardoned and return to politics. However, he was arrested while stopping in Chile. Fujimori was extradited to Peru in 2007 and was found guilty in 2009, receiving a 25-year prison sentence.