He became one of Peru’s “desaparecidos” (the disappeared ones), just one victim of a 20-year “dirty war” that never got as much global media coverage as those during the military governments of Argentina and Chile. Angelica Mendoza, center, whose son disappeared, cries while giving testimony during a public hearing of Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Huamanga, Ayacucho, in 2002. But she did bump into other mothers or relatives looking for their loved ones. Mrs. Mendoza never learned about her son but, through her efforts, other mothers and relatives did have their loved ones’ deaths confirmed. With her fellow parents or loved ones, Mrs. Mendoza made frequent visits to garbage piles around Ayacucho, where rumor had it some of the desaparecidos had been dumped.

Source: Washington Post September 09, 2017 17:49 UTC