Latin American leaders react to assassination of former Japanese prime minister

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Latin American leaders are reacting to the assassination of Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese prime minister who was shot dead at the age of 67 while giving a campaign speech in the western city of Nara on Friday.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday expressed "outrage" over the assassination of Abe, and decreed three days of national mourning in the country.

"As a sign of respect for the Japanese people, of recognition for Shinzo Abe's friendship with Brazil and solidarity in the face of this unjustifiable cruelty, I decreed official mourning throughout the country for three days," Bolsonaro published on his Twitter account. Bolsonaro called Abe "a brilliant leader who was a great friend of Brazil."

Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez condemned what he called a “shocking and painful attack against democracy and peace” and expressed his solidarity with the former prime minister's loved ones.

Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce also condemned the violent attack and conveyed his condolences to the Japanese people.

“Bolivia has a relationship of friendship and cooperation with Japan and, as a pacifist State, we condemn the violent act that caused his death,” Arce published on his Twitter account.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador from Mexico also expressed his condolences for the assassination of the former Japanese prime minister.

Colombian President Ivan Duque expressed his “deep regret” about the killing, and extended his condolences to Abe´s family and the Japanese people.

“We will always remember him as a leader who was very close to Colombia,” Duque said on Twitter.

Colombia had close relations with Abe after the former prime minister visited the South American nation and expressed his support for the peace process between the government and the FARC guerrillas in 2016.

After Abe was shot twice, security officials at the scene tackled the gunman, a 41-year-old former military who is now in police custody. The director of Nara Medical University where Abe was treated said in a press conference that the bullet that killed the former Japanese leader was deep enough to reach his heart.

Shinzo Abe served as prime minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. Abe's speech was part of a campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party, as upper house elections in Japan are due to take place soon.