Customer Reviews

Alberto Fujimori of Peru: The President Who Dared to Dream

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No matter how much your hate blinds you, it is impossible to deny his simply awesome accomplishments. I find it sad that he is hated (by some people) more than the ...terrorists he defeated. Perhaps it's because he was so effective in everything he did: he exposed the utter worthlessness of his opposition ...

Kimura's book is a good atempt to learn about the true in Peruvian History. But, history has never necessarily been a reflection of the true around the World.
The best ever President that has ruled Peru has been President Alberto Fujimori. Not just in our republican life but this includes our gloriuos life during the great Inka's Empire whose territory accounted for almost all South America.
Despite of the manipulated media around the World the current socio-eco-political situatio in Peru as we are right in March of 2002 is only due to the Ineptitud of President Toledo, the lack of Love for the country from the current 'administrators', the obscure interests of a group mainly composed by liberal, civic, pro-totalitarism, pro-jew, Soros'-backed and all the most dangerous and horrible pacts of bad and terror that are destroying Peru.
As Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General once wrote the problems in countries is the mentality that 'winners-take-all' and the current people in this corrupted Government of Peru thinks that way and believe they are entitled to wipe everything just because we the peoples of Peru gave them our sadded-given vote for not voting for A. Garcia who destroyed Peru between 1985-1990.
In an horrendous way, this new Government is co-governing with the APRA and V. Montesinos himself. The ingredient of the day is the cowardly Political Persecution against Mr. Fujimori and all the great people that worked so hard with him to bring the country back from the garbage they left us in 1990.
By far Fujimori was the best and we hope will be back.

Many people hate Fujimori because he was not a softy that allowed them to continue with their usual practices. Fujimori was a great president and he saved a country that was almost destroyed when he took office. This biography is embellished in that it shows the hardships of the struggle of the Fujimori's as an epic story, pointing out the virtues of their character against all odds. Isn't that what we should follow? Perseverance, determination, hard work, success?? I see now, where Fujimori's great strengh came from.

As a New York-based lending officer for Latin America, I have attended several presentations by Mr. Fujimori to the New York investment community. One in particular, made a memorable impression on me and on the Managing Directors and other bankers in attendance. Early last year, during a luncheon, Mr. Fujimori gave a short speech. When he was done, an American congresswoman stood up and pleaded for L. Berenson's case. During her speech and unexpectedly, Mr. Jesse James appeared in the room, and upon the end of the congresswoman's plead, he stood up and gave a long eloquent speech asking for lenience for Ms. Berinson. When he was done, all eyes fell on Mr. Fujimori. With a polite but firm tone Mr. Fujimori first thanked Mr. James for his presence. But far from catering to the predominantly Western banker audience, he looked straight into the crowd and said: "We Peruvians take terrorism very seriously, You Americans should know how much damage it can cause, remember Oklahoma and the 1993 WTC bombing". There was a big silence, and then a Colombian MD in my table stood up clapping and said: "Asi se habla carajo, esto es lo que Colombia necesita, una mano firme." I thought of this moment, when last September, my office building of four years 2 WTC, was pulverized along with thousands of innocent lives in a terrorist attack. Fujimori ended terrorism in Peru, and reattached an isolated Peru (thanks to Mr. Garcia) to the capital world, fostering outside investment, which is key to economic advancement. I heard Mr. Toledo in a subsequent event in New York, campaigning on a "back to democracy speech", accusing Mr. Fujimori of dictatorship and of stealing, which until now has yet to be proven. The recent paternity lawsuit against Mr. Toledo, and a US$10,000/month "consulting" contract scandal involving his wife do not portray a very ethical image. Mr. Fujimori's government had a strong Executive, while this might not fit the Western definition of democracy precisely, one wonders if in those Latin American countries with deeply rooted terrorism, this is not strictly necessary. I bought this book hoping to gain an insight into an impressive character, while the prose is highly embellished, the book is the only available biography to my knowledge, and its core content does provide a good insight into Mr. Fujimori's character. Mr. Fujimori writes editorials from Tokyo, on his website: fujimorialberto.com, and plans to re-run in 2006.

Fujimori, who has been discredited after his fall from power and the worlds learning about the excesses of his rule was actually a necessary evil in Latin America. he came to power when the capital was besieged by terrorists from the Shining Path in Peru who wanted to overthrow the government and install a fascist communist dictatorship. Sometimes extremism requires extremism from another direction, Fujimore represented that.
This book was written before the fall of Fujimore and before he tampered with the courts and tried to become a dictator. The book details his upbringing as a minority(Japanese) in a Latin country. His rise to power is something of a rags to riches story of an immigrants child triumphing over adversity, an amazing inspiring story.
When he achieved power he set out to destroy the terrorists in the mountains who daily terrorized the average farmers. Unfortunately this is where the book detours from reality. Fujimori's policies were not saintly, he used power and guns to crush terrorism and in the process innocent people lost some of their rights. In the end his ham fisted policies alienated the peasantry, the very people he was trying to help. He did rid the country of terrorists, an amazing achievement but in doing so he hurt many people and this is why he was unceremoniously thrown from office.
A biased book, but the only book on this amazing man and his amazing times. Their have been few studies of the rebel movements of Latin America and even fewer books on Peru. until a more neutral biography is released this is all we have on Fujimori, no matter how flawed it is.
A small but informative book.

Recently, the media and many Peruvians have depicted Mr Fujimori as the evil hand that ruled Peru for 10 years. This seems very unfair in view of the fact that when Mr Fujimori became President of Peru in 1990, the country was bankrupt and ungovernable. Even basic services like running water and electricity were unavailable to the millions of Peruvians that other Presidents had forgotten about. Violence from terrorism rocked the country and with Peru not being able to service its loans, its financial credibility was almost zero. 10 years later, when mr Fujimori was thrown out of the country without any appreciation for what he had done for Peru, the country is at least governable with even a growth rate of 4 per cent projected. Can anyone say that Mr Fujimori's reforms and policies had no good results to show?

This book is refreshing because it dares to disagree with the current unfair Fujimori bashing and gives him credit where it is due. It shows a side of Mr Fujimori and his achievements that no one wants to give credit to, and history will be kind to him, for he leaves a legacy that Peruvians with fragile memories refuse to acknowledge. Alberto Fujimori was what Peru needed, when Peru needed it. And this book is not afraid to acknowledge this fact and shows a side of him that a self respecting and fair person should read in order to form a fair and open view of this misunderstood and battered man.

First, my thanks to Rei Kimura for taking the time to research and write about one of the great men of the 20th century. President Alberto Fujimori is one of the very few men in high ranking political positions for whom I have respect. One of the few others is Congressman Ron Paul -- which will help the reader to understand where I am coming from in this review.

It is always nice to read favorable things about one's heroes, but particularly so when the left-wing press refers to Fujimori as an "iron-fisted dictator." This same press, which will chastise a leader for his firm tactics against a murderous band of terrorists, glosses over the 82 deaths at Waco, fails to examine the hundreds of deaths of innocents caused by the bombing by U.S. airplanes in Kosovo, and leaves unreported the deaths of thousands of children resulting from our embargos against Iraq. And of course for the mainstream media the only bad dictators are those of the right, as evidenced by the approval of the Clinton Administration's warming to Castro.

I have made six trips to Peru, the first in 1994 when I met my lovely wife in the Andes at about 10,500 feet in the town of Huamachuco. She and her family experienced first-hand the terrorist devastation when the Sendero Luminoso slaughtered some 14,000 head of cattle about three miles from her home, sending the area into economic depression to accompany the constant fear of the raging bands. So I appreciate Kimura's recording of Fujimori's question to the terrorists?" But Kimura failed to note that Fujimori never referred to the Tupac Amaru as guerrillas; he instead emphasized that they were simply criminals, criminals without a following among the people.

I have witnessed Peru's economic recovery in many little ways that Kimura doesn't mention. In November, 1994, we walked four blocks in the center of Lima before we could find a shop that had a telephone. By November, 1996, there was a pay phone on each corner of those same four blocks. And in July, 1994, the U.S. dollar bought you 2.28 soles, and now, almost six years later, will still only buy you less than 3.50 soles. This translates into an annual inflation rate relative to the U.S. dollar of 7.5%, most certainly an unheard-of low for Latin America.

I am also saddened that Kimura describes another of my heroes, Mario Vargas Llosa, as simply an "affluent novelist from the upper crust of Peruvian society." While we will never know how Vargas would have handled the terrorists, Fujimori has brought about economic progress by implementing much of the very program carefully laid out by Vargas (who by the way is much more of an "international economist" than Fujimori's current opponent, Toledo).

And while Kimura sets forth many interesting anecdotes about Fujimori's upbringing, incredible mother, education, and run for the presidency, it is curious that the book contains a few obvious factual errors. Alberto attended the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, not Wisconsin State University. I know this because my brother was one of his professors in higher mathematics.

Kimura is not troubled by Fujimori's dismissal of congress, nor am I, for the form of government is not so important as the size of government. Our own founding fathers regarded democracy as "the worst of all possible forms of government." For as recognized by Vargas (and as witnessed in our own country), "those who are most discriminated against and exploited [seem] to vote in favor of the system that keeps them in that condition." The pre-Fujimori system was one of massive government power which intruded into every aspect of daily life. As documented by Hernando de Soto, it could take more than a year to obtain all the necessary legal permits needed to open a simple retail shop. On my first day in Peru, as we passed by two six-story buildings my friend explained to me that they had previously housed the Department of Agriculture, but that on Fujimori's "first day" in office that bureaucracy had been reduced to just two floors of one building.

And while Kimura makes passing reference to Fujimori's reforms, I believe many readers would appreciate a few of the numerous examples that Kimura could have given to subtantiate her great admiration for President Alberto Fujimori. For instance, Fujimori privatized the bus system, selling routes to individual entrepreneurs immediately (1) relieving the government of a money-loser, and (2) improving transportation throughout Lima. And while Kimura obviously has heartfelt concern for the poor (including my in-laws) living in the mountains, she fails to display the wisdom of her hero in the Fujimori became president, life was really tough in the Andes. The terrorists had destroyed the economy, typhoid and cholera were ever-present threats, and transportation and communication were dangerous and/or unreliable. Now Kimura does give some details as to how Fujimori triumphed over the terrorists, but she leaves unsaid much that would substantiate Fujimori's wisdom (gained from reading Vargas?) in dealing with other problems. Instead of promising grandiose "national health care programs" and dispensing large sums of (freshly printed paper) money, Fujimori has used his limited government funds to reconstruct mountain roads and bridges, and has brought safe water, not only to the towns and villages, but right to the individual homes scattered about the mountainsides.

If only our own democratically elected Congress (that's where authority is granted by our Constitution, not to the Presidency) could follow the lead of "dictators" like Fujimori and Pinochet in the downsizing of our own crippling government bureaucracies. Again my thanks to Rei Kimura. She has written a book that needs to be read. END

Many have often spoken of former President Alberto Fujimori as the "savior" of Peru. A country in the midst of collapsing due to political corruption and urban guerrilla war fare in the 1980s. The book "Alberto Fujimori of Peru: The President who dared to dream" reveals one sided truths of the "dream" a Japanese immigrant had. The book written by Rei Kimura, suppresses facts about Fujimori's "true" birth place in order to be eligible to run for president. Intentionally ignoring many facts that led up to the corruption within Fujimori's cabinet and his well documented contradictory and fabricated war against terrorism. Alberto Fujimori and his right hand man Montezinos terrorizing death squads and murder of innocent Peruvians brought this dictatorship International attention but these facts are all well documented by those who experienced the 1990s in Peru. The differences are very much like Chile and its relationship with former Dictator General Pinoche. Pinoche came to power through CIA sponsored force on September 23, 1973, executing thousands of innocent people, including Americans, who supported a socialist Government by the late President Salvador Allende. Today, middle-class, wealthy elite speak highly of the late Pinoche while the poor who have limited voice speak in volumes of the terror Pinoche instilled for 17 years with the help of the CIA and our tax dollars.

The conclusion depends on how many opposing sides you read or the quantity documents you have access to or just fly to Peru and see the extreme differences in the shantytowns and badlands and the private gated communities in Mira Flores.

"conclusions that don't conclude"

-Fred Hampton

I lived in S. America for over four years. Some in Ecuador (culturally very similar to Peru), Argentina and Panama. I was shocked from the first moments I arrived in Peru to the end of my times there and will forever be in awe of the power to restore that one man can accomplish.
Equally I am struck by the ineptitude of the press and the phobia against one man who against all odds recreated a country destined to fail and be split apart.

I arrived about a month after Alberto Fujimori resigned. On the trip our guide kept spewing his fashionable opinion about A.F. What struck me was how many of us on the trip from Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina and other countries were schocked by the obvious good that even tourists could see from this President. Things like modern and well running cities. I.E. Clean, safe places to walk. Transportation systems in modern working order. Electrical systems in modern working order....and the list goes on and on and on. This man recreated the infrastructure and operations of Peru into a modern functioning society without putting the money into his pockets.
Furthermore, this wasn't just in tourist areas or the main cities. It was everywhere. Lima, Cuzco, Puno, etc. It was shocking what he tried to do for his people including access to healthcare and family planning. Things that anyone living in S. America would never think that their government would do to help them.
I laugh at those who hate G. Bush Jr. but are too obtuse or stupid to recognize thier own inabilities to recognize positive forces of change.
I am a traditional centrist/democrat. But those on the left who villified Alberto Fujimori should be ashamed of themselves.
ALberto Fujimori took office under disastrous conditions with the Terrorist organization Sendero Luminoso at it's all time strength and he destroyed them in only four years. He took an economy that had over 4900% inflation per year and brought it down to sing digit inflation in two years. HE introduced the New Sol currency almost 18 years ago and it's still stable and not devalued like all others, including the U.S. Dollar, The Brazil Real and the Chilean Peso. What's more is that Alvberto Fujimori did so much more for his people and his country and the vast masses aren't skilled enough to recognize.
I for one consider Alberto Fujimori to be one of my heroes, along with Alexander Hamilton, Abe Lincoln, George Washington and possibly Bill Clinton.

I don't agree with Mr Juan Ortecho about his views of this book. What was so bad about Mr Fujimori that he must be so defiled? Are past leaders like Alan Garcia who bankrupt the country and did nothing for the poor and to resolve the terrorist problems any better? Mr Fujimori may be branded a dictator but at least he built roads schools services, brought peace from terrorism and resolve dthe long standing border dispute with Ecuador. Of course politics is politics and very few politicians can do their job without being manipulative and "dirty". Think about it, if Mr Fujimori had been the Mr Nice Kind guy that Mr Ortecho wants him to be would he have been able to achieve for Peru a certain measure of social political and economic stability?

This book is different because it purports to show a side of a man that Peruvians who are enjoying the peace his efforts brought while at the same time joining in the unfair diatribe against him. Past leaders ravaged the country of Peru with corruption, disinterest and mismanagement but no one wants to talk about that. I like this book because it gives fairness where fairness is due!