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6 years ago

Peru’s minister quits amid Fujimori pardon controversy

Peru's culture minister, Salvador del Solar (Internet Photo)
Peru's culture minister, Salvador del Solar (Internet Photo)

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Peru's culture minister, Salvador del Solar, has resigned amid continuing controversy over the president's decision to pardon the country's former leader, Alberto Fujimori.

Fujimori was jailed for corruption and human rights abuses before he was pardoned on Sunday on health grounds.

The move sparked riots in Lima earlier this week, and two other resignations by government politicians.

Del Solar, a film director, has not publically stated why he is quitting, says a BBC report.

In a Twitter post [in Spanish] on Wednesday, he thanked the president for "the opportunity to serve the country".

In a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mercedes Aráoz has denied that the government did a deal with the opposition to free Fujimori in exchange for safeguarding the current president.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski narrowly escaped impeachment last week.

Fujimori, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses and corruption, has severe health problems but his critics think he should have served his term in full.

In a video published on Facebook on Tuesday, Fujimori thanked President Kuczynski, saying he was "deeply grateful".

"I'm aware that the results produced by my government were well received by some," he said.

"But I recognise that I have let down others. Those I ask for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart."

He said that he fully backed President Kuczynski's call for reconciliation.

In 2007, he was sentenced to six years in jail for bribery and abuse of power, but two years later was sentenced to another 25 years for human rights abuses committed while in office.

He was convicted of authorising killings carried out by death squads.

A statement from President Kuczynski's office said he had granted a "humanitarian pardon to Alberto Fujimori and seven other people in similar condition", without naming the others.

Protests erupted soon after news of the pardon came to light on Sunday, with many demonstrators waving pictures of victims of the counter-insurgency campaign.

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