Aldo Rico
Encyclopedia
Aldo Rico is an Argentine
military man and politician, famous for his role in the episodes of 1987 (usually referred to as "Semana Santa", or Easter week) and 1988 (the "Monte Caseros" mutiny) where sectors of the Armed Forces, known as carapintadas
("painted faces", due to their usage of camouflage painting), revolted to protest the policies of President Raúl Alfonsín
. Rico later created the Modin political party and contested several elections. Rico was elected mayor of San Miguel
(1997–2003) and was Minister of Police of Buenos Aires province
for a short period in 1999.
during the 1982 Falklands War
. As commander of the 602 Commando Company
, Rico's soldiers became famous in the Argentine Army for their exploits against British troops. After the war, Rico achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel
and started agitating against the prosecution of the 1976-1983 juntas.
week and negotiated a series of demands. The Argentine public was overly sensitive to any military claims (as every President elected democratically since 1928 was deposed by successive coups d'état) and rallied around Alfonsín, who agreed to consider the demands of the carapintadas. No blood was shed in the episode, but Alfonsín was accused of caving to insurgent demands, and came to be perceived as a weak president. Rico was condemned to house arrest and escaped in 1988, whereupon he led a second armed episode in 1988. In its aftermath, Rico was imprisoned. Mohamed Alí Seineldín
took over the leadership of the military rebellion, and Rico shifted his focus to electoral politics.
pardoned Rico in 1989 (in the context of a series of pardons that included all Junta members). Rico created the Modin party (Spanish initials of Movimiento por la Dignidad Nacional, "Movement for National Dignity"). Rico occupied several elective offices, including as a member of the Constitutional Convention during the Menem administration. He was elected as mayor of San Miguel in 1997. Two years later, Buenos Aires province governor Carlos Ruckauf
named Rico as Minister of Police, but a series of scandals made Rico quit the post after four months.
In the 2000s, Modin was merged into the Peronists
; Rico has declared his intent of running again for mayor in 2011.
On 6 February 2011, he survived a shoot out after a robbery attempt at Moreno
. Rico received at least one shot in the shoulder. He repelled the attack by firing his personal weapon.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
military man and politician, famous for his role in the episodes of 1987 (usually referred to as "Semana Santa", or Easter week) and 1988 (the "Monte Caseros" mutiny) where sectors of the Armed Forces, known as carapintadas
Carapintadas
The were a group of mutineers in the Argentine Army, who took part in uprisings during the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín in Argentina.In December 1986, the Ley de Punto Final was introduced...
("painted faces", due to their usage of camouflage painting), revolted to protest the policies of President Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
. Rico later created the Modin political party and contested several elections. Rico was elected mayor of San Miguel
San Miguel, Buenos Aires
San Miguel is situated in the northwest region of Greater Buenos Aires, 30 km from the capital . It is the head town of the San Miguel Partido. Since the early 2000s its been a part of Greater Buenos Aires. According to the 2001 census the number of inhabitants was about 157.532...
(1997–2003) and was Minister of Police of Buenos Aires province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
for a short period in 1999.
Role in Falklands (Malvinas) war
Rico was an army majorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
during the 1982 Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. As commander of the 602 Commando Company
602 Commando Company
The 602 Commando Company is a special operations unit of the Argentine Army, created May 21, 1982.The company is based on Córdoba Province. The members of the unit wear green berets with unit badges. The company is divided in 3 assault sections....
, Rico's soldiers became famous in the Argentine Army for their exploits against British troops. After the war, Rico achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and started agitating against the prosecution of the 1976-1983 juntas.
The Carapintada uprising
In 1987, Rico and his followers took up arms in EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week and negotiated a series of demands. The Argentine public was overly sensitive to any military claims (as every President elected democratically since 1928 was deposed by successive coups d'état) and rallied around Alfonsín, who agreed to consider the demands of the carapintadas. No blood was shed in the episode, but Alfonsín was accused of caving to insurgent demands, and came to be perceived as a weak president. Rico was condemned to house arrest and escaped in 1988, whereupon he led a second armed episode in 1988. In its aftermath, Rico was imprisoned. Mohamed Alí Seineldín
Mohamed Alí Seineldín
Mohamed Alí Seineldin was an Argentine army colonel who participated in two failed uprisings against the democratically elected governments of both President Raúl Alfonsín and President Carlos Menem in 1988 and 1990.Seineldín was born in Concepción del Uruguay into an Arab Argentine family...
took over the leadership of the military rebellion, and Rico shifted his focus to electoral politics.
Politics
President Carlos MenemCarlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
pardoned Rico in 1989 (in the context of a series of pardons that included all Junta members). Rico created the Modin party (Spanish initials of Movimiento por la Dignidad Nacional, "Movement for National Dignity"). Rico occupied several elective offices, including as a member of the Constitutional Convention during the Menem administration. He was elected as mayor of San Miguel in 1997. Two years later, Buenos Aires province governor Carlos Ruckauf
Carlos Ruckauf
Carlos Federico Ruckauf is a Peronist politician in Argentina, member of the Justicialist Party.-Biography:Carlos Federico Ruckauf was born in the western Buenos Aires suburb of Ramos Mejía. His parents separated when he was seven, and he lived in Mar del Plata, Salta, and Buenos Aires during the...
named Rico as Minister of Police, but a series of scandals made Rico quit the post after four months.
In the 2000s, Modin was merged into the Peronists
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
; Rico has declared his intent of running again for mayor in 2011.
On 6 February 2011, he survived a shoot out after a robbery attempt at Moreno
Moreno, Buenos Aires
Moreno is a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of Moreno Partido. It forms part of the Greater Buenos Aires urban conurbation and is located around to the west of the autonomous city of Buenos Aires....
. Rico received at least one shot in the shoulder. He repelled the attack by firing his personal weapon.