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Argentina Plaza de Mayo activist finds 'stolen grandson' | Argentina Plaza de Mayo activist finds 'stolen grandson' |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Argentine activist who searches for people who were snatched as babies by the 1970s military junta has found her own grandson. | An Argentine activist who searches for people who were snatched as babies by the 1970s military junta has found her own grandson. |
Estela de Carlotto said finding her grandson, a victim of the practice, was "reparation" for her and for Argentina. | Estela de Carlotto said finding her grandson, a victim of the practice, was "reparation" for her and for Argentina. |
She said he had come forward for DNA testing because he had doubts about his own identity. | She said he had come forward for DNA testing because he had doubts about his own identity. |
The junta snatched hundreds of babies from their opponents and gave them to sympathisers to bring up. | The junta snatched hundreds of babies from their opponents and gave them to sympathisers to bring up. |
Ms Carlotto's organisation, The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, was formed to reunite biological parents with hundreds of children born in prisons and torture centres. | Ms Carlotto's organisation, The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, was formed to reunite biological parents with hundreds of children born in prisons and torture centres. |
'Silent embrace' | 'Silent embrace' |
Ms Carlotto and her grandson have not yet met face to face, but Ms Carlotto says she is already imagining what it will be like to embrace him. | Ms Carlotto and her grandson have not yet met face to face, but Ms Carlotto says she is already imagining what it will be like to embrace him. |
"I don't think there'll be room for words, I think there will be gestures, and hugs, an embrace he will return. | "I don't think there'll be room for words, I think there will be gestures, and hugs, an embrace he will return. |
"I did not want to die without hugging him, without getting to know him," the 83-year-old said, talking about the man she refers to as Guido. | "I did not want to die without hugging him, without getting to know him," the 83-year-old said, talking about the man she refers to as Guido. |
He was born to Ms Carlotto's daughter Laura in 1978 while the young history student and political activist was held by the military junta. | He was born to Ms Carlotto's daughter Laura in 1978 while the young history student and political activist was held by the military junta. |
The baby, whom Laura had named Guido, was taken from his mother. | The baby, whom Laura had named Guido, was taken from his mother. |
Laura was killed in captivity two months later, one of 30,000 left-wing activists murdered during the 1976-1983 military rule. | |
Guido was raised under the name of Ignacio Hurban and lives in Olavarria, a city 350 kilometres (217 miles) south-west of Buenos Aires. | Guido was raised under the name of Ignacio Hurban and lives in Olavarria, a city 350 kilometres (217 miles) south-west of Buenos Aires. |
It is not clear whether the family which raised him knew that he had been stolen from his mother. | It is not clear whether the family which raised him knew that he had been stolen from his mother. |
The Grandmothers investigated who Guido's father was and contacted his family and asked him to give DNA blood samples to a blood bank in case the child was ever found. | The Grandmothers investigated who Guido's father was and contacted his family and asked him to give DNA blood samples to a blood bank in case the child was ever found. |
Empty chair filled | Empty chair filled |
At a jubilant news conference Ms Carlotto said: "We've found what we were looking for. | At a jubilant news conference Ms Carlotto said: "We've found what we were looking for. |
"Now I have 14 grandchildren with me. The empty chair is now filled, the photograph frames will carry a photo. | "Now I have 14 grandchildren with me. The empty chair is now filled, the photograph frames will carry a photo. |
"My grandson, is handsome, an artist, a good boy, well brought up, and he searched me out." | "My grandson, is handsome, an artist, a good boy, well brought up, and he searched me out." |
Local media reported he was working as music teacher and musician in Olavarria. | Local media reported he was working as music teacher and musician in Olavarria. |
He was located after he went to a national commission that identifies missing people about a month ago after having doubts about his past. | He was located after he went to a national commission that identifies missing people about a month ago after having doubts about his past. |
A DNA test had come out 99.9% positive for him being her grandchild, Ms Carlotto said. | A DNA test had come out 99.9% positive for him being her grandchild, Ms Carlotto said. |
"We spoke to him by phone he was very emotional, but he said he was very happy and very well," she said. | "We spoke to him by phone he was very emotional, but he said he was very happy and very well," she said. |
Argentina's dictatorship | Argentina's dictatorship |
1976: General Jorge Videla seizes power - thousands of political opponents rounded up and killed | 1976: General Jorge Videla seizes power - thousands of political opponents rounded up and killed |
1982: Videla's successor, General Leopoldo Galtieri, orders invasion of British-held Falkland Islands | 1982: Videla's successor, General Leopoldo Galtieri, orders invasion of British-held Falkland Islands |
1983: Civilian rule returns to Argentina, investigations into rights abuses begin | 1983: Civilian rule returns to Argentina, investigations into rights abuses begin |
2010: Videla sentenced to life imprisonment for murders during his term in office | 2010: Videla sentenced to life imprisonment for murders during his term in office |
2012: Videla sentenced to 50 years for overseeing systematic theft of the babies of political prisoners | 2012: Videla sentenced to 50 years for overseeing systematic theft of the babies of political prisoners |
Ms Carlotto said she and her family would leave her grandson in peace until he was ready to meet them. | Ms Carlotto said she and her family would leave her grandson in peace until he was ready to meet them. |
"We need to keep searching for other children so that other grandmothers can feel what I feel today," she said. | "We need to keep searching for other children so that other grandmothers can feel what I feel today," she said. |
The group said her grandson was the 114th "stolen child" they had found so far. | The group said her grandson was the 114th "stolen child" they had found so far. |
Most of the babies were handed to families who supported military rule, often simply to prevent them being raised by left-wing families. | Most of the babies were handed to families who supported military rule, often simply to prevent them being raised by left-wing families. |