The statue of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro was reinstalled in the center of Lima, Peru’s capital, 20 years after it was removed.
The sculpture was unveiled during the city’s 490th anniversary celebrations.
Pizarro founded Lima in 1535 after defeating the Inca Empire and claiming the land for the Spanish throne.
Indigenous leaders say he was a mass murderer who destroyed their culture, while supporters of returning the statue say Peru should not erase its history.
The monument, which depicts Pizarro on horseback with his sword drawn, was created by American sculptor Charles Rumsey and donated by his widow in 1935 to commemorate the city’s 400th anniversary.
In 2003, following demolition demands, it was moved to a park next to the railroad tracks on the outskirts of the city center.
Luis Bogdanovic, who is in charge of restoring the historic center, told local media that the statue was broken because it was damaged by constant passing trains.
The statue went on display Saturday in Lima’s main square, Plaza de Armas, along with Mr. Bogdanovic and several of Pizarro’s descendants.
Díaz Ayuso said the event commemorates “not only the birth of a city, but the beginning of a historic encounter that changed the world forever,” Spanish daily El Pais reported.
Dozens of Peruvians protested nearby against the government, according to AFP.
“This is a crime, a crime against all indigenous people in Peru, Latin America and around the world,” one official said.
