Our Own Strongman in Peru

STANDING in the packed courtroom annex as a Supreme Court panel this week sentenced the former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori to 25 years in prison for two massacres and two kidnappings, I had mixed emotions. As a human rights advocate who has pressed for Mr. Fujimori to be tried, I rejoiced in this once unthinkable moment. Sitting next to me were relatives of massacre victims, listening solemnly to a verdict that took over three hours to read.

At the same time, I worried that people would forget how we got here. Mr. Fujimori was widely embraced for bringing order to our country. As a Peruvian who lived in Lima during the 1990s, I once shared that sentiment.

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