Argentina: 131st child “stolen” during dictatorship found – 300 more wanted

The Grandmothers of May Square in Argentina announced yesterday Thursday that they had “found” another one of the children who had been stolen during the days of the military dictatorship (1976-1983) by a couple who were arrested in 1977 and then disappeared without a trace, the 131st in a row he found out what his true identity is and the first after about three years.

“We are happy to announce a new discovery of (true) identity,” said the “Abuelas” (“Grandmothers”) in the press release they released.

“It’s as if this end of the year wanted to satisfy all our wishes,” the organization added, alluding to Argentina’s World Cup title win. “After nearly three years, we are once again celebrating the discovery of a grandson.”

The iconic president of the Abuelas, Estela de Carloto, explained during a press conference that “grandchild no. 131” is currently 44 years old, clarifying that he is the child of two Marxist fighters. Lucia Nadine and Aldo Quevedo, from Mendoza, were arrested in Buenos Aires in October 1977. The young woman, 19 at the time, was almost three months pregnant.

Estella de Carloto, always active at 92, estimated that “grandchild 131” was probably born at ESMA, the Naval Engineering School, where a wing had been turned into one of the most notorious detention and torture centers of the military junta.

Precisely in the former ESMA, which today has been turned into a place of memory, he announced the location of “number 131”, which was, however, absent. It generally takes time for anyone found to digest what their true identity is before they come out publicly.

“This man agreed to take a (DNA) test and yesterday the national genetic data bank informed us of the happy news: he is the son of Lucia Nadine and Aldo Quevedo,” said Ms. de Carloto, showing a photo of the couple.

During a military dictatorship, hundreds of children—estimates ranged from 300 to nearly 500—were taken from mothers who were detained and then “disappeared” to be given to a couple who wanted but could not have a child, often close to the regime, on the grounds that thus they would raise children who would think “correctly” from a political point of view.

Another 300 are wanted

During 45 years of investigations, 130 cases had been “solved” by yesterday Thursday, in other words the real identity of these people had been verified. The verification has often led to emotional encounters, but sometimes it takes place after death. However, no such case had been resolved by the grandchild “number 130” in June 2019.

In recent years, detections have become much rarer, in part due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has long made contacts and investigations more difficult.

The “Grandmothers” organization, which is now led by a younger generation of activists, has resumed the so-called “spontaneous” efforts, going from province to province and inviting anyone who doubts his or her identity to come and discuss, in complete confidentiality, with specially trained advisors. If the suspicions are confirmed, a DNA test is then recommended.

The Abuelas are still looking for about “300 men and women, aged about 45, who live among us under false identity. We will continue to work in the hope that we will find all our grandsons and granddaughters. Wherever they are in the world,” promised Mrs. de Carloto. “It’s a labor of patience and love.”

“We’re starting to dream again,” she concluded, borrowing a line from Argentina’s national soccer fans’ anthem, “Muchatsos.”

Human rights NGOs estimate that around 30,000 people have been killed or disappeared during the military junta in the Latin American country.

RES-EMP

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