Ricardo Brinzoni
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Brinzoni was an Argentine
military officer, serving as Argentina's Chief-of-staff.
Born in Buenos Aires
, Brinzoni entered Military School on 1963, and trained as a paratrooper
, qualifying in December 1964. He built a career in the military and reached the rank of Brigadier General
in 1990. In the 1990s he served as military attaché
in Uruguay
. On December 13, 1999, President
Fernando de la Rúa
appointed Brinzoni as Army Chief-of-staff and a Lieutenant General
.
During the military government of 1976–1983, Brinzoni was Secretary-General of the military government of Chaco Province
. After the return to democracy, he was accused of involvement in the Massacre of Margarita Belén
, in which 22 political prisoners were executed on December 13, 1976.
While in command of the Army he suggested bringing together human rights
groups, the Catholic Church
and the Army to form a "reconciliation panel" in order to find out the whereabouts of the "desaparecidos". Nevertheless he was heavily criticised for defending the repression and military illegal actions
of the military government, for allegedly protecting the officers involved, and for setting back the reconciliation process that had been started by his predecessor, Martín Balza
. Brinzoni courted further controversy when it was revealed that his lawyer during this period, Juan Enrique Torres Bande, was a member of the neo-Nazi New Triumph Party
.
Following Néstor Kirchner
's inauguration as President in 2003, Brinzoni was retired and replaced by Roberto Bendini. Brinzoni subsequently issued several public statements criticising Kirchner's government.
Brinzoni was married to the former Lidia María Rosa Odino; they had
three children and two grandchildren. He died of pancreatic cancer
in Buenos Aires in 2005, aged 60.
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 officer, serving as Argentina's Chief-of-staff.
Born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Brinzoni entered Military School on 1963, and trained as a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
, qualifying in December 1964. He built a career in the military and reached the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 1990. In the 1990s he served as military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. On December 13, 1999, President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
appointed Brinzoni as Army Chief-of-staff and a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
During the military government of 1976–1983, Brinzoni was Secretary-General of the military government of Chaco Province
Chaco Province
Chaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
. After the return to democracy, he was accused of involvement in the Massacre of Margarita Belén
Massacre of Margarita Belén
The Massacre of Margarita Belén took place during the "Dirty War" in Argentina. It involved the torture and execution of 22 Montoneros, some of whom were killed after surrendering and laying down their weapons near the town of Margarita Belén, Chaco Province, on 13 December 1976, in a joint...
, in which 22 political prisoners were executed on December 13, 1976.
While in command of the Army he suggested bringing together human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups, the Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and the Army to form a "reconciliation panel" in order to find out the whereabouts of the "desaparecidos". Nevertheless he was heavily criticised for defending the repression and military illegal actions
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
of the military government, for allegedly protecting the officers involved, and for setting back the reconciliation process that had been started by his predecessor, Martín Balza
Martín Balza
Lieutenant General Martín Antonio Balza is an Argentine military former Chief of Staff of the Argentine Army. He is currently Argentine ambassador to the Republic of Colombia....
. Brinzoni courted further controversy when it was revealed that his lawyer during this period, Juan Enrique Torres Bande, was a member of the neo-Nazi New Triumph Party
New Triumph Party
Partido del Nuevo Triunfo was a minor far right Neo-Nazi group in Argentina banned on 17 March 2009 by ruling of the Argentine Supreme Court of Justice.-Origins:...
.
Following Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
's inauguration as President in 2003, Brinzoni was retired and replaced by Roberto Bendini. Brinzoni subsequently issued several public statements criticising Kirchner's government.
Brinzoni was married to the former Lidia María Rosa Odino; they had
three children and two grandchildren. He died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
in Buenos Aires in 2005, aged 60.