Manuel Martín-Oar
Encyclopedia
Spanish Naval Captain Manuel Martín-Oar (1947–2003) died from injuries sustained in the truck bomb attack
on the United Nations
' Baghdad
headquarters on Tuesday August 19, 2003, which killed 24 people. He was working for the Spanish special ambassador to Iraq
, Miguel Benzo Perea.
Captain Martín-Oar was born in Madrid
and has four children. He had held various positions including one with the United Nations as well having been the assistant director of the Military Naval School in Madrid. His colleagues called him "easygoing", a good talker, and a big art fan. Although the first to die in Iraq, Captain Martín-Oar was the 86th in a line of Spanish casualties in the past decade on peace missions, according to the Spanish ministry of defense, including 62 servicemen who were killed when an Ukrainian-made aircraft flying them back from Afghanistan
crashed in Turkey
in May 2003.
, called for a parliamentary debate "leading to the exit" of Spanish forces, and a far left leader, Gaspar Llamazares
, demanded "the abandonment of Spanish engagement in the occupation of Iraq and the return of the soldiers."
Martín-Oar's widow, Emilia Ripoll, sent a press release to Europa Press
in which she and her children express their deep pride in Sr. Martín-Oar's devoted service in the cause of peace, "...deep gratitude for the support and caring of the Government of Spain, especially of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces..". She further said "The Government does not deserve the criticism that it is receiving. My husband totally was identified with the position of the Government of Spain in this conflict." Sra. Ripoll remembers the "enthusiasm" of her husband for the mission in Iraq. "When he left for Baghdad, he was unusually excited...very happy and interested in the work that was being undertaken. He said that that country [Iraq] would shortly become a true paradise because it had everything it needed ....fertile soil, hard-working, intelligent people ... He knew that he was taking part in that transformation and that made him very proud".
Canal Hotel Bombing
The Canal Hotel Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, in the afternoon of August 19, 2003, killed at least 22 people, including the United Nations' Special Representative in Iraq Sérgio Vieira de Mello, and wounded over 100. The blast targeted the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq created just 5 days...
on the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
headquarters on Tuesday August 19, 2003, which killed 24 people. He was working for the Spanish special ambassador to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Miguel Benzo Perea.
Captain Martín-Oar was born in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and has four children. He had held various positions including one with the United Nations as well having been the assistant director of the Military Naval School in Madrid. His colleagues called him "easygoing", a good talker, and a big art fan. Although the first to die in Iraq, Captain Martín-Oar was the 86th in a line of Spanish casualties in the past decade on peace missions, according to the Spanish ministry of defense, including 62 servicemen who were killed when an Ukrainian-made aircraft flying them back from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
crashed in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in May 2003.
Political impact
The death of Captain Martín-Oar, Spain's first fatality in Iraq, shocked his country and opposition parties swiftly called for a parliamentary debate in the belief that Spanish forces should be brought home. The president of the Socialist Party (PSOE), José Luis Rodríguez ZapateroJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
, called for a parliamentary debate "leading to the exit" of Spanish forces, and a far left leader, Gaspar Llamazares
Gaspar Llamazares
Gaspar Llamazares Trigo is a Spanish politician. He was the leader of the leftist coalition Izquierda Unida from 2001 to 2008, in the post of General Coordinator. He is a member of Communist Party of Spain ....
, demanded "the abandonment of Spanish engagement in the occupation of Iraq and the return of the soldiers."
Martín-Oar's widow, Emilia Ripoll, sent a press release to Europa Press
Europa Press
The Europa Press was a publishing house founded and run by the Irish surrealist poet George Reavey. The press was based in Paris from its inception in 1932 until 1935, when Reavey moved to London...
in which she and her children express their deep pride in Sr. Martín-Oar's devoted service in the cause of peace, "...deep gratitude for the support and caring of the Government of Spain, especially of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces..". She further said "The Government does not deserve the criticism that it is receiving. My husband totally was identified with the position of the Government of Spain in this conflict." Sra. Ripoll remembers the "enthusiasm" of her husband for the mission in Iraq. "When he left for Baghdad, he was unusually excited...very happy and interested in the work that was being undertaken. He said that that country [Iraq] would shortly become a true paradise because it had everything it needed ....fertile soil, hard-working, intelligent people ... He knew that he was taking part in that transformation and that made him very proud".