The remains of 29 victims who disappeared during Colombia's half-century of conflict were handed over to their families last week, as a result of the recent settlement between representatives of the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Around 200 people attended the ceremony in the Colombian city of Villavicencio, which has traditionally been held under FARC control, where the remains were presented to families. Some had not heard news of their missing relatives for over ten years, reports Euronews.
The estimated number of missing persons in the Colombian conflict ranges from 20,000 to 100,000, according to Colombia Reports. Through the past five years, more than 2,000 bodies have been found in the areas surrounding Villavicencio. Around 830 of these have been identified and 77 have returned to their families. The deceased have been disinterred from mass burial plots throughout the region and identified through processes of DNA testing, fingerprinting, and medical studies by forensic scientists, explains the Latin Correspondent.
These graves, originally identified as containing the bodies of insurgents, also included these victims who were killed by the army but subsequently reported as guerrillas in order for those involved to earn promotions, according to Colombia Reports. Called "false positives," there could be more than 4,000 such cases across Colombia, as analyzed by Human Rights Watch.
During the ceremony, Sergio Jaramillo, the high commissioner for peace, reinforced the government's commitment to providing answers to families that have suffered losses of loved ones because of the conflict that has been ongoing in the country since 1964. "Within this effort we gave a privileged place to families who have lost loved ones on account of the conflict," Jaramillo stated. "I know there are brothers and sisters here who have been reunited following the ceremony. That was what we wanted: that all families who do not know their loved ones, have an answer, although painful, at least they know what happened."
"And if possible, to receive their remains," Jaramillo continued.
The Colombian conflict has killed more than 220,000 people and uprooted six million. The government and the FARC have agreed to settle a final peace agreement by March 23, 2016.
