JOINT WORK PLATFORM FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF COMMON BURIALS

The Joint Work Platform for the Investigation of Common Burials made up by the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights National Coordination Entity, states that:

On Monday August 26th at 10 a.m., the exhumation of common burials was started in Sancaypata and Ccarpacassa, located in the Totos district, province of Cangallo, department of Ayacucho.

The first procedure started in Sancaypata, 11/2 km form the Totos locality. Thirteen forensic experts participated from the Prosecutor’s Office and from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who started their work at two burials simultaneously: Sancaypata 1 and Sancaypata 2. Bone and garment remains were found, as well as one bullet shell. In the second burial, the remains of three people were found and they were exhumed.

During the second day, the exhumation of the remains found in the burial called Sancaypata 2 was completed and the excavation of a third burial called Sancaypata was started. Bone and garment remains, as well as one bullet shell were also found in this last burial.

On the third day of work, procedures were started simultaneously in two places at the burial located in Ccarpacassa and at the Cemetery of the Totos locality. In the first one, the remains of three people were found, while at the cemetery the remains of one person and part of another one whose body was found in Ccarpacassa were found.

During the three days of exhumation of burials, the relatives of victims presumably buried there were permanently accompanied by psychologists from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Prosecutor’s Office agreed to let the relatives closely observe the work being carried out by the forensic experts. Likewise, at the end of each day of work, meetings were held with the relatives to explain to them details concerning the work being done.

Today, at 11 a.m., he Joint Wok Platform for the Investigation of Common Burials finished the exhumation of remains at the Sancaypata and Ccarpacassa burials. At the end of this procedure, they held a meeting with authorities from the Totos locality, who were informed of the results of this work and who were thanked for the support provided to the team that stayed in the place for four days.

Tomorrow, identification of the remains found in these burials will start. To do so, a mobile morgue will be installed in Huamanga. The victims’ relatives will participate in this process and at the end of this procedure, they will identify their victim relatives. Their remains will be handed over to them, so they can give them a Christian burial.

Lima, August 29th 2002

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

HUMAN RIGHTS NATIONAL COORDINATION ENTITY