Peruvian Writers Speak Out Against Fujimori Pardon

 

More than 230 Peruvian writers have signed a letter rejecting the pardon of former President Alberto Fujimori.

The letter criticizes current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski for offering the pardon, announced on December 24. Alfredo Bryce Echenique, Fernando Iwasaki and Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa spoke¹ out in the letter.

Kuczynski said he extended the pardon for humanitarian² reasons linked to Fujimori’s poor health. The former leader had been serving a 25-year prison sentence for human rights abuses and other charges.

The letter says Fujimori was responsible for a government overthrow³ and destruction of the country’s institutions. It says the pardon “demonstrates a lack of appreciation⁴ for dignity, for equality before the law, and the right to remember wrongdoing.”

It also describes the pardon as a dangerous agreement between political forces hoping to control corruption⁶ cases that involve them.

In addition, Vargas Llosa wrote a commentary in El Pais, the most widely read newspaper in Spain. He said the people who voted for Kuczynski had unknowingly helped return power to Fujimori. He added that the pardon makes Kuczynski a partner and hostage of Fujimori.

The former president was found guilty of human rights violations⁷, corruption, and approving of death squads⁹ during his time in office from 1990 to 2000.

Some Peruvians honor Fujimori for fighting rebels. Others say he was a corrupt⁵ dictator.

The pardon has led to protests in Lima, the Peruvian capital. Opponents of Fujimori were waving pictures of people imprisoned¹⁰ or killed during his rule.

Police fired tear gas at the crowds December 24.

Two days later, the 79-year-old Fujimori asked the public for forgiveness.

In a Facebook video filmed from his hospital bed, Fujimori said, "I am aware that the results of my government were well received on one side, but I admit that I have let down other compatriots, and I ask them to forgive me with all my heart."

Fujimori thanked Kuczynski for the pardon and said that, as a free man, he would support the president's calls for greater unity¹¹ in the country.

Fujimori was taken to the hospital December 23 after suffering a severe drop in blood pressure and an abnormal heartbeat.

Some say Fujimori was acting¹² sick in order to get a pardon. His doctor denies the accusations¹³.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

institution – n. an established organization

appreciation – n. a feeling of being grateful for something

dignity – n. the quality of being worthy¹⁴ of honor or respect

death squad⁸ – n. an armed group formed to kill particular people, especially political opponents

aware – adj. knowing that something exists

compatriot – n. a person from the same country as someone else

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

4 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

5 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

9 squads   

n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍

参考例句：

• Anti-riot squads were called out to deal with the situation. 防暴队奉命出动以对付这一局势。 来自辞典例句
• Three squads constitute a platoon. 三个班组成一个排。 来自辞典例句

10 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

12 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

13 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

14 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。