23 June 2010 Ex-President's honorary degree revoked

Lincoln University has revoked the honorary Doctor of Science degree it awarded to former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in 1998.

Chancellor Tom Lambie announced the revocation following yesterday's meeting of the Lincoln University Council.  

In April last year Ex-President Fujimori was convicted and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for his role in killings and kidnappings by security forces during his Government's struggle with guerrillas. The verdict from three judges of Peru's Supreme Court was unanimous.

Fujimori was elected constitutional President of Peru in 1990 and re-elected in 1995 for a further term, however his administration collapsed amid charges of corruption and he fled to Japan, his parents' birthplace, in 2000. In 2005 he embarked on a political comeback from exile, via Chile, when Peruvian polls indicated he still retained some popular appeal. Instead of the comeback, he was arrested by Chilean police and extradited to Peru in 2007 where he was charged with human rights violations while President and put on trial.

Fujimori visited New Zealand and Lincoln University twice -  in the early 1980s, when he was a university academic and scientist at Peru's top agricultural university, and in 1998 on an official State visit as President of the Republic of Peru.

Lincoln University, which has a long history of agricultural connections with South American countries, conferred the honorary degree on President Fujimori in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and science during his academic career and his significant achievements as Head of State up to that point, overcoming extreme inflation and internal terrorism and preparing Peru to join APEC.

In revoking Fujimori's honorary doctorate, the University Council followed a set of revocation criteria guidelines which include a recipient acting in a manner contrary to the values of Lincoln University; and acting in a manner damaging to the public profile and reputation of Lincoln University.

Under the guidelines the University Council needed to consider one or more of the criteria and form a judgment as to whether it believed revocation was justified. The decision in favour of revocation was unanimous.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field said "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".