Decades after her disappearance, Amelia Sanjurjo finally laid to rest in Uruguay
- Amelia Sanjurjo, who was disappeared by the Uruguayan dictatorship, finally received a proper burial in Montevideo after nearly 50 years.
- Security forces seized the pregnant woman from the street, leading to her mysterious disappearance into the military's prison system.
- The long-awaited burial brings closure to the tragic chapter of Amelia Sanjurjo's life and the history of Uruguay.
Forensic teams in Uruguay have found the remains of only five missing people since 2005. It's very hard to find bone fragments, teeth, and bits of clothing because the dictatorship tried to destroy DNA to hide that they tortured and killed detainees. In Montevideo, people gathered to honor Sanjurjo, whose remains were identified using genetic testing. Her family, who spent their lives searching for her, paid tribute to her. Sanjurjo's surviving relatives, now living in Europe, sent a message for her wake. The identification of victims is part of seeking justice and accountability 40 years after the dictatorship in Uruguay ended. Between 1973 and 1985, Uruguay's military regime disappeared 197 people. Many Uruguayans taken by the dictatorship were detained in Argentina through Operation Condor, a plan by South American dictatorships to eliminate their opponents. Less than 30 trials have taken place in Uruguay for these crimes. The identification of remains is a difficult task carried out by a team of professionals including archaeologists, anthropologists, geneticists, and historians. It's a quiet but important job. Sanjurjo was 41 years old and pregnant when she was taken in 1977. She was tortured and killed at a military detention center. The dictatorship was harsh to her and many others who dreamed of a fairer world. The identification of victims like Sanjurjo is a step towards acknowledging the past and seeking justice for the atrocities committed during the dictatorship in Uruguay.