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.
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