Fujimori's death doesn’t end the seek for justice for Peru's victims, nor does it stop the dictator's supporters from honoring his legacy.

The death of Alberto Fujimori, the deeply divisive former Peruvian presidentcomes amid a renewed interest in the previous ruler – from each supporters and critics.

And in some respects, the same old customs following the death of a former head of state are being observed.

Politicians, relatives and defenders of Fujimori have publicly expressed their condolences. The Peruvian government has three days National Mourning During this time, the country's Congress is suspended, the flag flies at half-mast and a wake is held in front of the Ministry of Culture.

Others were comfortable concerning the news of his death; Fujimori was, in spite of everything, a controversial figure in Peru, a rustic he led after which fled before Extradition from Chile and is serving a jail sentence for bribery and ordering the murder of 25 people.

As a scholar who writes a book about human rights violations in Peru under Fujimori. Fujimori's death from cancer on the age of 86 on September 11, 2024, is a chance for me to reflect on where Peru stands today. It can also be a chance to precise my concern that any try to absolve Fujimori's legacy of its crimes could possibly be an indication of democratic regression.

Legal proceedings are still ongoing

Fujimori was president for a decade after winning the primary elections in Peru in 1990. Two more election victories followed. But even after be pushed out of power Although he was elected by lawmakers in 2000, he remained an influential figure within the country's politics.

His death coincided with recent legal investigations He has been implicated in human rights abuses, including allegations that his government forced hundreds of indigenous Peruvian women to undergo sterilization, reportedly disguising the campaign as a family planning initiative.

The ongoing investigations incriminated each Fujimori and his former health ministers. A trial into the Fujimori government's forced sterilization campaign, Celia Edith Ramos against Peruis currently pending before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica.

The president of DEMUS, a women’s rights group based in Peru, said that despite Fujimori’s death, the organization “will not give up“until there is truth, justice and reparations for the victims.”

Worshipped to the tip

Despite his quite a few legal problems and a “Self-coup”, which temporarily suspended the Peruvian structure and dissolved the country's legislature, many Peruvians revered him to the tip. His daughter Keiko Fujimori had announced only two months ago that her ailing father planned to run for office. President again in 2026.

His death is more likely to trigger the revival of “Fujimorism”, a predominantly right-wing movement that revolves across the legacy of the previous president and his family’s political party.

Just months before Fujimori succumbed to cancer, Peruvian lawmakers passed a law that Limitation of crimes against humanitydespite the objections of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The law prohibits the prosecution, conviction, or punishment of anyone who committed crimes against humanity and war crimes before July 1, 2002. By effectively granting amnesty to all historical human rights violators, the law prevents lawsuits related to any domestic armed conflict, including those during Fujimori's tenure.

This law and now his death have raised concerns concerning the situation of victims and survivors of the human rights violations that took place during his ten-year term in office.

Legacy of human rights violations

Fujimori got here to power within the midst of a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation and the rise of left-wing guerrillas that threatened the country's political, social and economic stability.

The armed conflict in Peru began in 1980, when the Marxist guerrilla group Shining Path announced its intention to Waging war in rural and concrete areas.

The following twenty years were marked by periods of authoritarian rule with significant military involvement through the presidencies of Belaúnde Terry (1980–1985), Alan García (1985–1990) and the Fujimori government (1990–2000).

The conflict and the resulting human rights violations – 69,000 Peruvians were killed or disappeared – concerned the state, the Shining Path guerrillas and civilians caught within the crossfire. The state was responsible for 37% of deaths and disappearancesa subsequent Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The most important crimes took place during Fujimori’s first term in office between 1990 and 1995. These included the massacre of civilians in Lima’s Barrios Altos district In 1991, the disappearance and murder of nine students and a professor from Lima Cantuta University in 1992and the kidnapping of Journalist Gustavo Gorriti And Businessman Samuel Dyer.

As a results of these incidents and other violations, Fujimori was dropped at court after which convicted of crimes against humanity in 2009. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Fujimori’s supporters demanded his pardon – and were successful twice. Former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski One pardon was granted in 2017, the opposite in December 2023 by President Dina Boluarte.

Both pardons triggered nationwide protests among the many Peruvians, lots of whom believed Fujimori must have stayed behind bars for the remainder of his life.

Another Fujimori is running for president

Studies show that it’s harder for subsequent governments of a rustic to adequately respect and protect human rights when previous politicians who’re held chargeable for human rights violations remain in political power.

Keiko Fujimori, Alberto's daughter and leader of the right-wing Fuerza Popular Party, which announced the amnesty law, is already proving that this statement is correct.

She is the heir to Fujimorism, which can experience a resurrection after the death of her father.

While she lost Presidential candidacies 2011, 2016 and 2021it’s becoming increasingly likely that will make a fourth attempt in 2026.

Can there be justice for his victims?

The death of Alberto Fujimori implies that among the legal proceedings against him, reminiscent of those concerning forced sterilizations, will probably be dropped at an end. His death also implies that the 57 million soles – about 15 million US dollars – in compensation to the Peruvian government that he was ordered to pay in response to a court remain unpaid. Peruvian law prohibits next of kin from paying the deceased's civil compensation from their very own resources, as debts should not inheritable there.

But his victims, their families and human rights activists are in search of creative ways to maneuver forward, even perhaps giving them the liberty to pursue others implicated in the previous ruler's crimes.

About forced sterilizations, Maria Ysbel Cedano of DEMUS noted that this violation of reproductive rights was not only the responsibility of Fujimori, but additionally of others who served his government and are still alive.

Other relatives of human rights victims see Fujimori's death as recent reasons to give attention to their fight against the actions of the present Peruvian government.

Fujimori's legacy could possibly be rehabilitated by his supporters after his death, but his passing could also galvanize those calling for an end to impunity for perpetrators of human rights abuses in Peru.