Mohamed Alí Seineldín

Mohamed Alí Seineldín

Mohamed Alí Seineldin in 1982
Nickname Milo, El Turco
Born November 12, 1933(1933-11-12)
Concepción del Uruguay
Died September 2, 2009(2009-09-02) (aged 75)
Buenos Aires
Allegiance Argentina
Service/branch Argentine Army
Rank Colonel
Battles/wars Operativo Independencia
Falklands War

Mohamed Alí Seineldin (Arabic: محمد علي زين الدين ) (November 12, 1933 Concepción del Uruguay - September 2, 2009) 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.[1]

Seineldín was born in Concepción del Uruguay into an Arab Argentine family.[2] He converted from Islam to Roman Catholicism during his youth,[2] being consecrated to Virgin of Rosario (Virgen del Rosario).[2] He remained a devout Roman Catholic throughout his life, even devoting his men in the army to the Virgin of Rosario as well.[2] In an interview on his goals during his military career, Seineldín later explained, Luchamos por el mismo objetivo, que es la nacionalidad y la fe cristiana, which is roughly translated as, "We fought for the same goal, which is the nationality and the Christian faith."[2]

Seineldin rose to prominence in Argentina during the 1982 Falklands War against the United Kingdom.[1]

An ardent nationalist,[1] Seineldin became a member of the Carapintadas, or "painted faces," group within the Argentine Army.[1] The Carapintadas demanded that the Argentine government halt legal proceedings against army officers accused of human rights abuses during the Dirty War, which occurred during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1978-1983.[1] The low ranking officers were charged with a wide range of crimes, including the murder of dissidents, torture and kidnapping.[1]

In 1987 and 1988, the Carapintadas rebelled against the government of President Raúl Alfonsín, but both uprisings were quickly put down. In December 1988, members of the Grupo Albatros, led by Colonel Mohamed Alí Seineldin rebelled once again against the Alfonsín government and seized the military barracks at Villa Martelli. The mutineers eventually surrendered and Seineldin was arrested.

Mohamed Alí Seineldin led a second unsuccessful uprising against the government of President Carlos Menem beginning on December 3, 1990. The failed uprising resulted in 14 deaths, including five civilians.[1]

Seineldin was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1990 mutiny.[1] However, he was pardoned by then President Eduardo Duhalde in 2003.[1]

Mohamed Alí Seineldin suffered a heart attack and died in a hospital in Buenos Aires on September 2, 2009, at the age of 75.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Argentine ex-army colonel who led uprisings dies". Associated Press (Taiwan News). 2009-09-02. http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1047903&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_world&cate_rss=WORLD_eng. Retrieved 2009-09-15. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Irigaray, Juan I. (2009-09-11). "Mohamed Alí Seineldín, ex militar golpista". El Mundo (Spain). http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/09/03/obituarios/1251929605.html. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 

External links