08734
October 7, 2008

Two grandmothers, two very different stories

After 30 years of weekly vigils, families of ‘disappeared’ refuse to give up

by Cynthia White
Coordinator, Self-Development of People
Reprinted from the SDOP Web site

LOUISVILLE — It is alleged that between 1976 and 1983 the Argentinian government was responsible for the disappearance of more than 400 children and some of their parents in what has become known as the “Dirty War.” 

Mirta Acuna de Baravalle and Elsa Pavon. Photo courtesy of SDOP

In 1977 the mothers of the disappeared (known by the acronym CREAS) began protesting at Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires.  They have been there every Thursday since to keep in the public eye that the majority of their children or grandchildren have not been returned.  Long ago they faced the sad reality that their children were more than likely dead.  It was their grandchildren they were fighting to get back and continue to fight for their return.

In the 31 years since they began their weekly vigils, 87 of the disappeared children, including four found by governmental commissions and two located by the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, have been returned to their families.

Elsa Pavon’s daughter Paula, and son-in-law, Claudio, disappeared May 18, 1978. Nine years later her granddaughter was finally returned to her. 

Pavon received information from a neighbor that a child in a neighboring community looked exactly like the Pavon family and was the age that her granddaughter would be.  After extensive investigations and legal battles, the child was determined to be her long-searched-for granddaughter. 

The child did not remember the Pavons as family, but on walking into her grandmother’s house she went straight to the chair that she and her mother used to sit in all the time. Pavon knew then that she had her granddaughter back.

For Ms. Mirta Acuna de Baravalle the sadness remains. The search continues for her daughter Ana Maria and son-in-law Julio Cesar Galizzi, who were abducted Aug. 27, 1976. Ana Maria was pregnant.

Elsa Pavon (left) presents a fabric piece with the CREAS she hand-painted to SDOP Coordinator Cynthia White (right). Photo courtesy of SDOP

Both mothers remember the exact day their children disappeared. There is no doubt in De Baravalle’s mind that her grandchild is alive.  She will never stop looking for her or him.

When the group’s vigils began, many mothers gathered in the park. Sometimes these days only six or seven may show up. Many have died and most now are in their 70s and 80s. Those remaining are faithful in their commitment to bring their grandchildren home.