Fri Sep 13 02:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori Receives State Funeral Despite Controversial Past

LIMA, Peru (AP) – Peru has declared three days of national mourning and granted a state funeral for former President Alberto Fujimori, who died on Wednesday at the age of 84. The controversial figure, who ruled the country with an increasingly authoritarian hand from 1990 to 2000, was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption.

Fujimori’s family, including his daughter Keiko and brother Kenji, led a procession carrying his coffin to a museum in Lima, where a public wake was held. President Dina Boluarte paid her respects to the late former president.

Fujimori’s legacy remains deeply divided. While some praised his economic reforms and his success in quelling the Shining Path insurgency, others condemned his authoritarian tactics, including the forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of numerous Peruvians.

He was released from prison in December after a court granted him a pardon on humanitarian grounds.

The decision to grant Fujimori a state funeral has been met with criticism, with many arguing that his crimes against humanity disqualify him from such an honor. However, his supporters argue that he deserves recognition for his role in Peru’s history.

Despite the controversy surrounding his life and death, Fujimori’s legacy will continue to be debated for years to come.

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