The article doesn't really confirm that it was a paid first class ticket. If it was, and there was an upgraded or non-rev passenger in first, whoever did the bumping should be shot. However, if they'd simply overbooked first, and everyone in there was paid first, he should know better than to travel incognito. Who in the world (except a confirmed current events buff) would look at Fujimori and realize that he might be the president of Peru, especially if that's what he claimed. I'd call a funny farm if I didn't know better.
BTW: I've travelled a lot on a diplomatic passport, and I've found that it gets you through customs a bit faster (outside the US only) but that it also attracts a lot of extra attention from security folks (the old KGB and their brethren). It doesn't get you many perks. In this situation, if he remained "incognito" and tried to rely on his diplomatic passport, he'd probably have gone to the bottom of the list.

[This message has been edited by philforest (edited 06-11-1999).]