Lincoln University has revoked an honorary doctorate awarded to former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who was last year sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in killings and kidnappings by a military death squad.
Fujimori, 71, received the degree during a 1998 presidential visit to New Zealand in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and science, and his achievements to that date as president.
Lincoln announced its decision today after the university council voted unanimously yesterday to strip the former leader of his degree.
"Lincoln University has a core value of respect for human rights and deplores Professor Fujimori's involvement in a gross violation of human rights in Peru," Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field said.
Last April, a Peruvian court jailed Fujimori for 25 years for his role in the Peruvian security forces' actions against anti-government guerrillas.
He was later sentenced to a further seven-and-a-half years in prison for embezzlement, after admitting to paying his spy chief $US15 million ($NZ21m) from state funds.
Lincoln University's council guidelines state degrees may be revoked where a recipient acts in a manner contrary to the university's values, or in a way that damages the university's public profile and reputation.
Fujimori visited the university twice - first in the early 1980s while he was an academic and scientist at Peru's top agricultural university, and in 1998.
