Peru returns Dirty War victims

Angelica Cusi Diaz cries over the coffin that contains the remains of her daughter Lucia Cuadros in a forensic laboratory in Huamanga, Peru. Picture: Rodrigo Abd

Angelica Cusi Diaz cries over the coffin that contains the remains of her daughter Lucia Cuadros in a forensic laboratory in Huamanga, Peru. Picture: Rodrigo Abd

Published Oct 28, 2014

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Huamanga, Peru -

The small farmers came from remote mountains and jungle valleys to receive the exhumed remains of loved ones slain three decades ago during Peru's dirty war.

Hundreds arrived in the Ayacucho state capital for Monday's handover of 80 sets of remains.

Simple white coffins bore the bones of fathers, mothers, wives, children and brothers.

Some were slain by Shining Path rebels. Others were killed by soldiers, accused of collaborating with the guerrillas.

Forensic teams have been exhuming victims of Peru's 1980-2000 internal conflict since 2006. Officials say they have recovered 2 925 sets of remains and identified 1 689.

A truth commission found that about 70 000 died in the conflict. - Sapa-AP

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