Javier Diez Canseco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Javier Diez Canseco
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Javier Diez Canseco speaking in Congress in 2012
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| Member of Congress | |
| In office 26 July 2011 – 4 May 2013 |
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| Succeeded by | Manuel Dammert |
| Constituency | Lima |
| In office 26 July 2001 – 26 July 2006 |
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| Constituency | Lima |
| In office 26 July 1995 – 26 July 2000 |
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| Constituency | National |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 26 July 1985 – 5 April 1992 |
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| Constituency | National |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 26 July 1980 – 26 July 1985 |
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| Constituency | Lima |
| Member of the Constituent Assembly | |
| In office 28 July 1978 – 13 July 1979 |
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| Constituency | National |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 March 1948 Lima, Peru |
| Died | 4 May 2013 (aged 65) Lima, Peru |
| Political party | Socialist Party of Peru |
| Other political affiliations |
Peru Wins (2010-2011) Union for Peru(2001-2005) Mariateguist Unified Party Revolutionary Vanguard |
| Residences | Lima, Peru |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Peru National University of San Marcos, Lima |
| Occupation | sociologist, politician, member of Peruvian Congress |
| Website | javierdiezcanseco.pe |
Javier Diez Canseco Cisneros (born March 24, 1948 – died May 4, 2013) was an important Peruvian politician. He was a member of the Peruvian Congress and helped start the Socialist Party of Peru. He also served as the party's president.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Javier Diez Canseco grew up in a wealthy family in Lima, Peru. His parents were Santiago Luis Diez Canseco Magill and Maria del Carmen Cisneros Sanchez. He was related to famous historical figures, including a 19th-century general and even President Fernando Belaúnde Terry. His father was a banker, which meant his family lived comfortably.
When he was very young, Javier got poliomyelitis, which caused a permanent limp in his left leg. He often said that this experience helped him understand unfairness and inequality better.
He went to religious schools in Lima for his primary and secondary education. Later, he studied law at the National University of San Marcos and sociology at the Catholic University (PUCP) in Lima.
How Did Javier Diez Canseco Start in Politics?
While at university, Javier became very active in student politics. He was elected chairman of the Social Science Student Federation at PUCP in 1970. The next year, he became the head of the university's Student Federation.
During this time, he joined a left-wing political group called Vanguardia Revolucionaria. He even left Lima to work with mine workers in the central highlands. Because of his political activities, military governments in Peru sent him away from the country to Argentina and France. Later, his group joined with others to form the Partido Unificado Mariateguista, where he became a key leader.
In December 1996, Javier was one of the people held captive by Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) guerrillas during the Japanese embassy hostage crisis in Lima. He was released after a few days and later spoke about the importance of finding a peaceful solution.
Political Career in Congress
Javier Diez Canseco had a long and important career in Peruvian politics.
What Was His Role in Drafting the Constitution?
He was part of the Constituent Assembly that wrote the 1979 Constitution. This new constitution helped end twelve years of military rule in Peru.
When Did He Serve in Congress?
Javier served in both parts of the Peruvian Congress from 1978 until 1992. His time in Congress was interrupted when President Alberto Fujimori temporarily closed Congress in 1992. He returned to Congress from 2001 to 2006, and again from 2011 until his death in 2013. He was also a candidate for President of Peru in the 2006 elections.
What Were His Main Political Beliefs?
Javier was a strong supporter of socialism. He often wrote articles for the newspaper La República, sharing his views. He was critical of certain political styles and strongly opposed the government of President Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s. He also spoke out against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, calling it "neocolonialism".
How Did He Help People with Disabilities?
From 2002 to 2006, he led a special commission in Congress focused on disabilities in Peru. This group worked to create new laws and policies to help people with disabilities. One of the most important laws for people with disabilities in Peru, passed in December 2012, was created with his help.
What Investigations Was He Involved In?
Javier Diez Canseco was involved in several important investigations:
- In 1990, he participated in an inquiry about illegal wiretapping (listening in on phone calls) by the government.
- In 2002, he led a congressional investigation into how state-owned companies were sold off (privatized) in the 1990s. His committee found that only a small part of the money from these sales actually benefited the country.
- He also investigated human rights violations that happened during Peru's internal armed conflict from 1980-1992. This included looking into events like the 1985 Accomarca massacre. Because of this work, he received threats.
Why Was He Suspended from Congress?
In November 2012, Javier Diez Canseco was temporarily suspended from Congress for 90 days without pay. This happened after the Congressional Ethics Commission said he broke rules by proposing a bill that might have financially helped his daughter and ex-wife. However, Javier denied any wrongdoing. He believed political opponents were working against him.
In April 2013, a court ruled that his suspension was unfair because it violated proper legal procedures. A higher court later confirmed this decision. This was not the first time he had been suspended; he had faced similar suspensions in 1983 and 1988 for other incidents during heated debates.
Challenges and Safety Concerns
Javier Diez Canseco faced several serious threats during his career, especially because of his investigations into government actions and human rights.
- In November 1990, just before his findings on wiretapping were to be released, a dynamite attack happened at his home. Police first thought it was a terrorist group, but later evidence suggested it was a government-linked group.
- In 1995, his name appeared on a list of names left with a funeral flower arrangement at a human rights organization, signed by a group known for violence.
- In March 1997, his car was shot at by armed attackers, though he was not in it at the time. The attackers took his driver and bodyguards, questioned them, and then released them.
- In 1999, on his birthday, two human skulls were left near his home.
Illness and Passing
In early 2013, Javier Diez Canseco shared that he had pancreatic cancer. He passed away on May 4, 2013. After his death, his family asked that the congressmen who had voted to suspend him not attend his funeral events. His remains were cremated, and his ashes were placed in his family's mausoleum in Lima.
