Restitution of the identity of the 138th grandchild in Argentina
The year 2024 ended with the gratifying news of the restitution of another grandchild, the 138th , who was abducted during the 1976-1983 civic-military dictatorship in Argentina, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo announced on Friday, December 27. He is the son of Marta Enriqueta Pourtalé and Juan Carlos Villamayor , both members of the Montoneros guerrilla group who were detained and disappeared in 1976.
“They were seen at the clandestine detention center, the Navy Mechanics School (ESMA), where the 138th grandchild was likely born. More than 30 births have been recorded at this clandestine center. They were planning to name the baby they were expecting Soledad or Manuel,” explained Estela de Carlotto , president of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. She added: “This restitution is, once again, proof of the ongoing consequences of state terrorism and the centrality of human rights policies.”
Diego Antonio, son of Marta Enriqueta Pourtalé and brother of the 138th grandchild, sent a message from Spain saying: “I am overcome with emotion, you are very welcome. Thank you, Grandmothers, you are the pride of our nation, I adore you.” The Grandmothers added that “we await the son of Marta and Juan Carlos with the truth so that he can rebuild his ties with the family that always searched for him and loved him.”
The discovery of a new grandchild comes at a time of adversity for human rights organizations, which are facing unprecedented defunding by the government of Javier Milei. In mid-December, Carlotto issued a warning: “We call on the world to look at what is happening in Argentina and act accordingly. It is essential to stop any backsliding and defend the democratic values and human rights that we fought so hard to achieve.”
A recent report presented by Abuelas together with the German Heinrich Böll Foundation warns about the closure of key areas such as the Special Investigation Unit of the National Commission for the Right to Identity (CoNaDI) last August and the suspension of access to military and police documentation, essential for legal cases.
In this context, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo recalled that more than 300 grandchildren have not yet recovered their identity, a task that requires the full functioning of organizations such as the CoNaDI and the National Genetic Data Bank, institutions affected by budget cuts and layoffs that seriously compromised their work during the year of government of Javier Milei and Victoria Villarruel.
The previous restitution announced by the human rights organization was that of grandson 133, Daniel Santucho Navajas , in July of last year. In the interim, four cases of pregnant women who were kidnapped by the dictatorship and murdered before giving birth were resolved. The cases of grandchildren 134, 135, 136, and 137 were resolved after information was shared with the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF), the National Commission for the Right to Identity (CONADI), and the Judiciary.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have had to conclude a search with this horrific end. Throughout these almost 46 years of struggle, we closed 15 cases of women murdered before giving birth, and today we must add four more to that list,” the Grandmothers reported in September 2023. These are Dora Elena Vargas, Olga Liliana Vaccarini, Hilda Margarita Farías, and Liliana Beatriz Girardi, all pregnant women who were murdered by state terrorism.
Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo has never ceased its campaign to search for children born in captivity or kidnapped along with their parents.
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