The Argentina’s Forensic Anthropology Team confirmed thisTuesday the identification of eleven disappeared people from the last civil-military dictatorship, found near an ex-clandestine detention center in Córdoba.
The Argentinean Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF) confirmed on May 7, the identification of eleven individuals who disappeared during the last civil-military dictatorship (1976-1983) in the south american country.
These remains were discovered in the vicinities of the former Clandestine Detention and Extermination Center La Perla, located in the province of Córdoba.
This significant identification marks a crucial step in the ongoing quest for Memory, Truth and Justice for the victims of State terrorism, bringing closure to their families after decades of searching and uncertainty.
The Forensic Anthropology Team’s meticulous forensic work continues to shed light on one of Argentina’s darkest periods, offering tangible evidence of the crimes committed and challenging narratives that seek to deny or minimize them.
Text reads: “In La Perla already began the clearing and on Monday the excavation and archaeological prospecting begins. Three hectares adjacent to the worked area will be investigated in 2025, where a large number of human skeletal remains were recovered, allowing 12 people to be identified.“
This group represents the second wave of identifications made by Forensic Anthropology Team scientists at the site. Previously, in March of this year, they revealed the identities of twelve other disappeared people buried in the area known as Loma del Torito, within the La Calera Military Garrison.
These consecutive findings highlight the persistent efforts and advanced scientific techniques employed by the Forensic Anthropology Team in their mission. The systematic recovery and analysis of human remains are critical for reconstructing the events of the past and providing definitive answers to the families of the disappeared.
Text reads: “We celebrate the new findings in La Loma del Torito, result of the work of anthropological and genetic analysis carried out by the Argentinean Forensic Anthropology Team on the remains recovered at the Military Garrison La Calera, where the Clandestine Detention Center La Perla operated. Each discovery is a step further in the search for memory, truth and justice. These advances are part of the cause of clandestine burials, where Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo is the plaintiff.”
Forensic Search Continues
Fieldwork for these recoveries began in 2025, facilitating the comprehensive anthropological and genetic analysis of the remains. Experts anticipate exploring approximately three hectares of land until September in their search for more disappeared persons. This extensive search operation is a testament to the scale of the crimes committed at this clandestine detention center and the commitment to unearthing every possible trace.
The identification process is validated by Federal Court N°3, under Judge Miguel Hugo Vaca Narvaja, who will notify the respective families. An official announcement will take place next Tuesday, May 12, at a press conference, where details of this significant revelation will be provided. This formal procedure ensures transparency and adherence to legal standards, reinforcing the legitimacy of the findings.
The former clandestine center so-called La Perla, located on land belonging to the Third Army Corps and was dependent on the Intelligence Detachment 141 of the province, operated between 1976 and 1978, during the darkest period of Argentinean civil-military dictatorship. Investigations by the Provincial Memory Archive (APM) of Córdoba estimate that between 2,200 and 2,500 people were detained, tortured and exterminated there.
Text reads: “The DNA analysis allows identifying people even when the recovered skeletal remains are isolated and disarticulated in the finding. Since 2006, the Forensic Genetics Laboratory has identified more than 1,400 missing persons.”
Human Rights Policies Attacked
These findings represent a significant advance in the pursuit of Memory, Truth and Justice, despite the negationist discourse of the far-right Government of Javier Milei and the defunding of Human Rights policies.
In this context, since 2024, special rapporteurs from the United Nations (UN) have dispatched six official letters, alerting about this government dismantling policy. These international warnings highlight concerns over Argentina’s commitment to its international human rights obligations.
In March, the group of experts -comprising specialists in forced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, torture, and cultural rights- produced a report detailing a systematic strategy by the Liberty Advances Party’s Government to favor the claims of civil-military dictatorship perpetrators. This strategy includes measures such as the disarticulation of teams responsible for reviewing the archives of the Armed Forces, which raise serious questions about the Government’s stance on accountability for past atrocities.
The collective memory of these events is strengthened with each identification, preventing oblivion and ensuring that future generations understand the gravity of the civil-military dictatorship’s crimes.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: Pagina 12 / Tiempo Argentino
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