Thu Sep 12 06:06:53 UTC 2024: ## Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori Dies at 86
**LIMA, PERU** – Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who led the country through a period of economic growth in the 1990s but was later imprisoned for human rights abuses during his war against Maoist rebels, died Wednesday at the age of 86.
Fujimori, the son of Japanese immigrants, was a relatively unknown university chancellor when he was elected in 1990. He quickly became known for his hands-on style of leadership, which, while criticized for concentrating power, led to significant economic achievements. He tackled hyperinflation, privatized state-run companies, and slashed trade tariffs, paving the way for Peru to become a stable economy in Latin America.
His time in office also saw the capture of Abimael Guzman, leader of the Maoist Shining Path, a crucial blow to the movement that had threatened the Peruvian state in the 1980s.
However, Fujimori’s reign was not without controversy. He shut down Congress in 1992, using military tanks, and redrafted the constitution to his liking, pushing free-market reforms and tough anti-terrorism laws. A series of corruption scandals during his 10-year presidency further alienated the public.
Fujimori fled to Japan, his country of origin, in 2000, after video evidence surfaced of his top adviser bribing politicians. He was eventually extradited to Peru in 2007 and sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses and corruption in 2009.
Though Fujimori was briefly pardoned in 2017, the pardon was overturned, and he returned to prison until he was released in December 2023 due to his declining health. He was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in May 2024.
Fujimori’s legacy is complex, marked by economic success and controversial political tactics. He remains a divisive figure in Peruvian politics, with his daughter, Keiko Fujimori, carrying on his political legacy.
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