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EPAF Press Release September 4, 2008
Family Members Identtify Clothing of their Deceased Relatives
Clothing Exibition Comes To An End In Putis
Ayacucho, Peru. Wednesday September 3rd in Mashuacancha, Putis, in the highlands of Peru, the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team (EPAF) showed the clothing found in the larger mass grave exhumated in the country to day, result of the massacre of the villagers of Putis in December of 1984. In an open area next to the river, the clothing and personal effects of almost 100 victims recovered last May were laid over two long blue plastic tarpaulins.
Early morning, dozens of villagers from the eight annexes of the community of Putis descended to the river accompanied by their children and in some cases with their cattle. Their early arrival took EPAF's personnel by surprise since they had not yet finished laying out the clothing; some relatives immediately recognized clothing bringing tears and pain.
The clothing exhibition was held over 5 days in 3 locations: Huanta, San Jose de Secce (Santillana) and Putis. The outcome is very positive: over 500 visitors attended, 19 identifications of clothing and/or personal effects were made, and 80 ante-mortem forms of victims of the Putis massacre and other events were collected.
This event not only shows that clothing exhibitions are an effective tool in the identification process, but also demonstrates the persistence of memory over time. The exhibition was cathartic for the families of the victims and allowed them to grieve and come to terms with the events that define their past, an essential step in healing the wounds of Peru's troubled history.
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