Peru's former president, Alberto Fujimori, has been released from prison after serving over 15 years behind bars. The 85-year-old was surrounded by hundreds of supporters as he left Lima's Barbadillo prison. The country's constitutional court upheld a presidential pardon that was issued six years ago. Fujimori is a controversial figure, having been imprisoned for corruption and human rights violations during his time in office. He had been serving a 25-year prison sentence before his release. Accompanied by his children, Kenji and Keiko Fujimori, he left the prison wearing a face mask.
To some, Alberto Fujimori is seen as the president who saved Peru from terrorism and economic collapse. However, to others, he is viewed as an authoritarian leader who disregarded democratic institutions to maintain his grip on power. Fujimori, the son of Japanese immigrants, ruled with an iron fist from 1990 to 2000, and his presidency was marked by numerous dramatic events. His government's crackdown on violent insurgencies resulted in the deaths of approximately 69,000 people.
Years after leaving office, Fujimori was found guilty of bribery, abuse of power, and human rights abuses. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, including for authorizing killings carried out by death squads. When he was initially sentenced in 2009 at the age of 70, it was widely believed that he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. However, in December 2017, he was transferred to a hospital due to health concerns, including low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythm. It was then that President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski granted him a pardon, citing his incurable illness and the grave risk to his life in prison.
In conclusion, Alberto Fujimori's release from prison has sparked mixed reactions in Peru. While some see him as a savior who brought stability to the country, others condemn him for his authoritarian rule and human rights abuses. His release comes after a presidential pardon was upheld by the constitutional court, citing his deteriorating health.
Original news source: Alberto Fujimori: Peru's ex-president freed after 15 years in jail (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and then summarize the main points in 3-5 sentences. After they have finished, have each pair share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of questions related to the article, such as "Do you agree with the presidential pardon granted to Alberto Fujimori?" or "Should leaders who commit human rights abuses be allowed to go free?" Instruct the groups to discuss the questions and come up with their opinions. Afterward, have each group present their opinions to the class.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a blank sheet of paper. Instruct them to create a catchy headline for the article that captures the main idea. Encourage creativity and brevity. Afterward, have each group share their headline and explain their reasoning behind it.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board, such as "authoritarian," "insurgencies," "bribery," etc. Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a whiteboard or a piece of paper. Instruct one student from each pair to choose a word from the list and draw a picture representing that word, while the other student guesses the word. After a set amount of time, have the students switch roles. Continue until all the words have been guessed.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Instruct the class to individually think about their opinion on whether Alberto Fujimori should have been released from prison. After a few minutes, pair up the students and have them discuss their opinions with their partner. Finally, have each pair share their opinions with the class and facilitate a brief discussion.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Alberto Fujimori served over 15 years in prison.
Fujimori was imprisoned for corruption and human rights violations during his time in office.
Fujimori was surrounded by hundreds of supporters as he left prison.
Fujimori is viewed differently by different people in Peru. Some see him as a savior who brought stability to the country, while others condemn him for his authoritarian rule and human rights abuses.
During Fujimori's presidency, there were numerous dramatic events, including a crackdown on violent insurgencies that resulted in the deaths of approximately 69,000 people.
Fujimori was found guilty of bribery, abuse of power, and human rights abuses. He was also found guilty of authorizing killings carried out by death squads.
Fujimori's health concerns included low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythm, which led to his transfer to a hospital.
Fujimori's release has sparked mixed reactions in Peru, with some supporting his release due to his health concerns and others condemning it due to his past actions.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Peru's former president, Alberto Fujimori, has been d from prison after serving over 15 years behind bars. The 85-year-old was by hundreds of as he left Lima's prison. The country's constitutional court upheld a presidential pardon that was issued six years ago. Fujimori is a controversial figure, having been imprisoned for corruption and human rights violations during his time in office. He had been serving a 25-year prison sentence before his release. Accompanied by his children, Kenji and Keiko Fujimori, he left the prison a face mask. To some, Alberto Fujimori is seen as the president who saved Peru from and economic collapse. However, to others, he is viewed as an authoritarian who disregarded democratic to maintain his grip on power. Fujimori, the son of Japanese immigrants, ruled with an iron fist from 1990 to 2000, and his presidency was marked by numerous dramatic events. His government's crackdown on violent insurgencies resulted in the deaths of approximately 69,000 people. Years after leaving office, Fujimori was found guilty of bribery, abuse of power, and human rights abuses. He was to 25 in prison, including for authorizing killings carried out by death squads. When he was initially sentenced in 2009 at the age of 70, it was widely that he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. However, in December 2017, he was transferred to a hospital due to health concerns, including low pressure and abnormal heart rhythm. It was then that President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski granted him a pardon, citing his illness and the grave risk to his life in prison. In conclusion, Fujimori's release from prison has sparked mixed reactions in Peru. While some see him as a savior who brought stability to the country, others condemn him for his authoritarian rule and human rights abuses. His release comes after a pardon was upheld by the court, citing his deteriorating health.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is your opinion of Alberto Fujimori's release from prison?
2. How do you think the people of Peru feel about Fujimori's release?
3. Do you think Fujimori should have been pardoned? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if a former leader in your country was released from prison after being convicted of corruption and human rights abuses?
5. What do you think are the pros and cons of granting pardons to former political leaders?
6. Do you think Fujimori's release will have any impact on Peru's political landscape? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Fujimori's release will affect the victims of his human rights abuses?
8. What do you think the international community's reaction will be to Fujimori's release?
9. How would you feel if a former leader in your country was seen as both a savior and an authoritarian figure?
10. Do you think Fujimori's health concerns were a valid reason for his release? Why or why not?
11. How do you think Fujimori's release will impact the perception of justice in Peru?
12. What do you think are the long-term consequences of pardoning a former leader convicted of human rights abuses?
13. How would you feel if a former leader in your country was pardoned due to health concerns?
14. Do you think Fujimori's release will lead to any changes in Peru's justice system? Why or why not?
15. How do you think Fujimori's release will impact the relationship between the government and the people of Peru?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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