Mario Firmenich
Mario Eduardo Firmenich (born 24 January 1948) is a former Argentinian urban guerrilla leader and politician. He was one of the commander of Montoneros group and the most significant figure in the Argentinian guerrillas in the 70s. In 1987, He was sentenced to life in prison for killing a businessman and attempts to murder multiple politicians in Argentina, but was pardoned by president Carlos Menem in 1990.[1]
He has been accused of many killings and kidnappings carried out by Montoneros, like the kidnaping of Born Brothers, owners of Bunge and Born and the killing of former president Pedro Eugenio Aramburu. He confessed the killing of Aramburu with his partner Norma Arrostito.[2][3][4]
He was born in Buenos Aires into a family of German origins and attended the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. He was arrested for the first time in February 1974 for his actions with Montoneros, but released soon due legal technicalities. During the National Reorganization Process he lived in exile in different countries like Italy, Cuba, and Mexico. With the return of democracy in Argentina with president Raúl Alfonsín, he was captured in Brazil and extradited to Argentina. During his return in the country, he studied economy at the University of Buenos Aires and graduated with honours, but due his controversial figure a political group, Franja Morada, and classmates petitioned to give no honours to him.[5][6]
He currently lives in Spain, where he is a history teacher and researcher at the University of Barcelona, where he earned a degree, and at Rovira i Virgili University.[6]
References
- "Former Guerrilla Leader Mario Firmenich Given Life In Prison". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- "Notorious guerrilla chief in Argentine custody". UPI. 21 October 1984. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- "A 40 años del asesinato: relato secreto de la confesión por el crimen de Aramburu". Clarín. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- "Argentine rebel chief convicted". The New York Times. 20 May 1987. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- "La UBA niega el diploma de honor a Firmenich". La Nación. 18 March 1997. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- "La vida catalana del montonero". 5 March 2018. ABC. Retrieved 14 February 2020.