Sep
02
2016

Fourteen families received the remains of their loved ones, disappeared during the conflict

The Victims Unit provided the families with psychosocial care and counseling.

AntioquiaMedellín

Remembering the suffering caused by forced disappearance by guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and criminal gangs is painful for families. But still, the colorful billboards adorned the act and the portrait beside the coffin of their loved ones was shown as a relief for having been able to find them.

Messages of remembrance, love and forgiveness were reflected in those writings by parents, brothers, sons, husbands, and wives, recapitulating the moments with those familiar today to address that pain away. Fourteen families received the remains of their loved ones, who had disappeared during the conflict.

"Today is a special day despite so much pain, there is much joy to receive the remains of my son... not only him but all victims being delivered. We should not be sad though it is an inexplicable pain,” said Ana Muñetón, the mother of Juan Pablo Gutiérrez Muñetón, victim of enforced disappearance 14 years ago.

This woman thanked for the psychosocial care and counseling delivered by the Victims Unit during the days previous to the reparation ceremony where the delivery of remains took place. "It is very important because it alleviates pain and prepare us for what we are not prepared, so we can pass on to other people and our families some peace".

According to Jorge Mario Alzate, director of the entity in Antioquia, "for three days before the ceremony we worked with the families to prepare them to face the painful moment of receiving the skeletal remains of 14 victims, in addition to knowing the violent circumstances in which their loved ones were killed."

He added that "legal attention to these families” is also provided, so that they can access other measures such as economic compensation, among others. Since 2012, in Antioquia department, around 9,859 relatives of victims of enforced disappearance have received resources mounting to 51 billion pesos approx.

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