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El Salvador mother and daughter meet 29 years after civil war abduction El Salvador mother and daughter meet 29 years after civil war abduction
(3 days later)
The two women looked at each other for a moment before drawing together in an embrace of joy and sorrow. Around them, a room full of relatives let out a collective gasp, astounded at the resemblance between mother and child, reunited after 29 years.The two women looked at each other for a moment before drawing together in an embrace of joy and sorrow. Around them, a room full of relatives let out a collective gasp, astounded at the resemblance between mother and child, reunited after 29 years.
In 1984, Josefina Flores Osorio had been forced to hand over her two-year-old daughter, Xiomara, for adoption at the height of El Salvador's brutal civil war. Now, she seemed oblivious to the commotion around her as she wept in her daughter's arms. "I feel I've been born again," said Osorio, 52. "I always believed she was alive and I am so grateful to have found her. I've dreamed about this moment for so long."In 1984, Josefina Flores Osorio had been forced to hand over her two-year-old daughter, Xiomara, for adoption at the height of El Salvador's brutal civil war. Now, she seemed oblivious to the commotion around her as she wept in her daughter's arms. "I feel I've been born again," said Osorio, 52. "I always believed she was alive and I am so grateful to have found her. I've dreamed about this moment for so long."
The emotional reunion marked the 389th case of a "disappeared" child to be successfully resolved by the tiny charity Pro Búsqueda Association for Missing Children since the dirty war ended 21 years ago. Pro Búsqueda was founded by a Spanish Jesuit priest in 1993 to investigate the enforced disappearances of children, stepping in where the state refused. It has located missing children in the US, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Guatemala and Honduras using dogged investigators and, more recently, a DNA database developed with the help of volunteer forensic scientists based at the California department of justice.The emotional reunion marked the 389th case of a "disappeared" child to be successfully resolved by the tiny charity Pro Búsqueda Association for Missing Children since the dirty war ended 21 years ago. Pro Búsqueda was founded by a Spanish Jesuit priest in 1993 to investigate the enforced disappearances of children, stepping in where the state refused. It has located missing children in the US, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Guatemala and Honduras using dogged investigators and, more recently, a DNA database developed with the help of volunteer forensic scientists based at the California department of justice.
The database holds the genetic profiles of 550 families searching for more than 900 disappeared children. Another 103 people abducted as children are looking for their families. Between 10 and 20 new cases come forward each year.The database holds the genetic profiles of 550 families searching for more than 900 disappeared children. Another 103 people abducted as children are looking for their families. Between 10 and 20 new cases come forward each year.
Margarita Zamora, a Pro Búsqueda investigator, said many investigations were still hampered by the military. "The army holds important details – dates, names and places – which would help us solve many more cases as families are often too traumatised to remember. We have been asking them for years to release their files, they always say yes, but these are just words."Margarita Zamora, a Pro Búsqueda investigator, said many investigations were still hampered by the military. "The army holds important details – dates, names and places – which would help us solve many more cases as families are often too traumatised to remember. We have been asking them for years to release their files, they always say yes, but these are just words."
The complexity of the searches is illustrated by the story of the Osorio family. Josefina and her three children, aged between two and six in 1984, were handed over to the police by soldiers who found them hiding in a hole during a military offensive in their village. Her husband was killed in the operation. For two weeks a police sergeant threatened to kill them all, until she finally agreed to let him take Xiomara.The complexity of the searches is illustrated by the story of the Osorio family. Josefina and her three children, aged between two and six in 1984, were handed over to the police by soldiers who found them hiding in a hole during a military offensive in their village. Her husband was killed in the operation. For two weeks a police sergeant threatened to kill them all, until she finally agreed to let him take Xiomara.
The policeman's wife, however, did not want Xiomara and within months, the little girl was given to another couple, who named her Carolina. She grew up, got married, had three children and always assumed the policeman she remembered was her biological father.The policeman's wife, however, did not want Xiomara and within months, the little girl was given to another couple, who named her Carolina. She grew up, got married, had three children and always assumed the policeman she remembered was her biological father.
In 1997 Josefina Osirio reported Xiomara as missing to Pro Búsqueda. There were few leads over the years as there was no birth certificate and Osorio could not remember the dates of the military operation nor the sergeant's name.In 1997 Josefina Osirio reported Xiomara as missing to Pro Búsqueda. There were few leads over the years as there was no birth certificate and Osorio could not remember the dates of the military operation nor the sergeant's name.
Xiomara, who was living less than 50 miles away from her biological family, had never stopped longing to find out more about her history, but did not hear of Pro Búsqueda until November 2012, when a friend happened upon a promotion event and told staff about a young woman called Carolina looking for her family.Xiomara, who was living less than 50 miles away from her biological family, had never stopped longing to find out more about her history, but did not hear of Pro Búsqueda until November 2012, when a friend happened upon a promotion event and told staff about a young woman called Carolina looking for her family.
Pro Búsqueda got in touch with Xiomara, took a DNA sample and quickly got a "code hit" with the Osorio family. It took a year of DNA analysis, probing family interviews and a burn scar on Xiomara's foot, to confirm the match. Pro Búsqueda got in touch with Xiomara, took a DNA sample and quickly got a "cold hit" with the Osorio family. It took a year of DNA analysis, probing family interviews and a burn scar on Xiomara's foot, to confirm the match.
After meeting her mother, she said. "I have never felt anything like this in my life, it's a mountain of mixed emotions, but finally I can know my family."After meeting her mother, she said. "I have never felt anything like this in my life, it's a mountain of mixed emotions, but finally I can know my family."
Her brother Santos Flores Osorio , who was five when Xiomara disappeared, said: "I thank God for bringing my sister back to us today, but I pray there will one day be justice. Her disappearance left a huge hole in our family for 29 years."Her brother Santos Flores Osorio , who was five when Xiomara disappeared, said: "I thank God for bringing my sister back to us today, but I pray there will one day be justice. Her disappearance left a huge hole in our family for 29 years."
Xiomara was one of hundreds, probably thousands, of rural children snatched from families during military operations against alleged leftwing guerrilla sympathisers. Many were illegally given to wealthy or military families in El Salvador, some grew up on military bases or in orphanages while others were adopted abroad who took them overseas.Xiomara was one of hundreds, probably thousands, of rural children snatched from families during military operations against alleged leftwing guerrilla sympathisers. Many were illegally given to wealthy or military families in El Salvador, some grew up on military bases or in orphanages while others were adopted abroad who took them overseas.
But, thanks to an amnesty law passed in 1993, no one has been prosecuted over the abductions – or for the deaths of 80,000 people, the disappearance of 8,000 others and the forced displacement of a million more during the fighting.But, thanks to an amnesty law passed in 1993, no one has been prosecuted over the abductions – or for the deaths of 80,000 people, the disappearance of 8,000 others and the forced displacement of a million more during the fighting.
The impunity awarded to the country's human rights abusers means that 21 years after the conflict came to an end, El Salvador's civil war remains an open wound – and a live political issue.The impunity awarded to the country's human rights abusers means that 21 years after the conflict came to an end, El Salvador's civil war remains an open wound – and a live political issue.
Signed into law by the Nationalist Republican Alliance (Arena), which is closely allied to the military, the amnesty law has endured for two decades even though the Inter-American court of human rights has repeatedly ruled it illegal, and similar laws elsewhere in Latin America have been repealed.Signed into law by the Nationalist Republican Alliance (Arena), which is closely allied to the military, the amnesty law has endured for two decades even though the Inter-American court of human rights has repeatedly ruled it illegal, and similar laws elsewhere in Latin America have been repealed.
In September, civil war victims still seeking justice were given hope after the supreme court accepted a case challenging the constitutionality of the amnesty law. Two weeks later the archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas – who has spoken in support of the amnesty law – closed the archdiocese's human rights and legal centre (Tutela Legal), which was founded in 1980 by the then archbishop Oscar Romero and holds about 80% of documented human rights abuses from the war.In September, civil war victims still seeking justice were given hope after the supreme court accepted a case challenging the constitutionality of the amnesty law. Two weeks later the archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas – who has spoken in support of the amnesty law – closed the archdiocese's human rights and legal centre (Tutela Legal), which was founded in 1980 by the then archbishop Oscar Romero and holds about 80% of documented human rights abuses from the war.
The closure prompted national and international condemnation, but there is evidence that those suspected of wartime abuses are prepared to take action to prevent even the possibility of prosecution.The closure prompted national and international condemnation, but there is evidence that those suspected of wartime abuses are prepared to take action to prevent even the possibility of prosecution.
In November three armed men broke into the Pro Búsqueda offices, stole several computers and attempted to burn paper files containing meticulously gathered evidence of hundreds of enforced disappearances.In November three armed men broke into the Pro Búsqueda offices, stole several computers and attempted to burn paper files containing meticulously gathered evidence of hundreds of enforced disappearances.
Cristián Orrego Benavente, director of the forensic programme at the Human Rights Centre at the University of California, Berkeley, who has worked with Pro Búsqueda since 2003, said: "El Salvador is moving into a significant new phase after a long history of total impunity. This provoked the odious and dangerous attempt to destroy them, but its carefully gathered evidence will be presented in Salvadoran courts when the new era of justice begins."Cristián Orrego Benavente, director of the forensic programme at the Human Rights Centre at the University of California, Berkeley, who has worked with Pro Búsqueda since 2003, said: "El Salvador is moving into a significant new phase after a long history of total impunity. This provoked the odious and dangerous attempt to destroy them, but its carefully gathered evidence will be presented in Salvadoran courts when the new era of justice begins."
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