Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Controversial Reinstallation of Pizarro Statue in Lima Sparks Debate

A statue representing Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro has been reinstated in the heart of Lima, Peru, over two decades after its initial removal. This event coincided with celebrations for the city’s 490th anniversary.

Pizarro is historically recognized for founding Lima in 1535 after conquering the Inca Empire and seizing their territory for Spain. However, the legacy of Pizarro remains contentious. Indigenous groups vehemently criticize him, labeling him as a mass murderer who decimated their cultures and communities. In contrast, advocates for the statue’s restoration argue that acknowledging historical figures is essential and that erasing such monuments does a disservice to the understanding of Peru’s complex past.

The statue, crafted by American sculptor Charles Rumsey, depicts Pizarro on horseback with sword raised. Rumsey’s widow donated the piece to honor the city’s 400th anniversary in 1935. It underwent a relocation in 2003 to a park adjacent to train tracks after mounting pressures led to calls for its removal, largely due to perceived glorification of colonial actions.

According to Luis Bogdanovich, responsible for the restoration of Lima’s historic centre, the statue suffered damage over the years due to the vibrations caused by passing trains, which resulted in noticeable cracks.

During the recent unveiling, Lima’s mayor, Rafael López Aliaga, along with Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, presented the bronze statue at Plaza de Armas, Lima’s principal square. Díaz Ayuso emphasized the event’s significance, remarking that it commemorates “not only the birth of a city, but also the beginning of a historic encounter that forever transformed the world,” as reported by the Spanish newspaper El País.

However, the reinstallation has been met with backlash. Numerous demonstrators gathered nearby to voice their opposition, highlighting widespread discontent over the perceived glorification of colonialism. One protester vocalized the sentiment by describing the reinstatement as “an offense to all the indigenous peoples of Peru, Latin America, and the world,” according to AFP news agency.

This event underscores the ongoing debate surrounding historical remembrance and the reconciliation of different narratives within Peru’s history, marking a significant moment in the cultural discourse surrounding colonial figures and their legacies.

Source
www.bbc.com