24 61. Arcadia Ramírez Portillo, the mother of Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez, made several attempts to find her daughters. Among other measures, she went to Chalatenango and to Santa Ana to look for the Atlacatl Battalion to seek information on the whereabouts of her daughters, without success.65 She filed a complaint with the Second Trial Court of San Francisco de Gotera in April 1997 (infra para. 138) and she went to the Red Cross, often accompanied by her sister, Reina Dionila Portillo de Silva, with whom she took several measures to find them, including searching military barracks, children’s homes, and with the Search Association.66 Also, on November 10, 2000, Mrs. Portillo de Silva filed an application for habeas corpus before the Supreme Court of Justice (infra para. 159). 62. As of this date, the whereabouts of Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez are unknown. B. Facts related to the forced disappearance of Gregoria Herminia, Serapio Cristian and Julia Inés Contreras 63. Gregoria Herminia Contreras was born on May 9, 1978, Serapio Cristian Contreras on December 5, 1980, and Julia Inés Contreras on April 20, 1982, all in the Department of San Vicente, El Salvador.67 All three are the children of María Maura Contreras and Fermín Recinos Ayala68 and, at that time, the family also included Marta Daysi Leiva and Nelson Contreras.69 64. On August 24, 1982, “a large-scale military operation” was launched in several cantons of San Vicente, with the participation of units of the Fifth Infantry Brigade70 and “at least, members of the Cavalry Regiment, the Armed Forces Engineers Training Center, and 65 Cf. Statement made by Arcadia Ramírez Portillo, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folio 7498), and Statement made by Reina Dionila Portillo de Silva, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folio 7486). 66 Cf. Statement made by Arcadia Ramírez Portillo, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folios 7498 a 7499), and Statement made by Reina Dionila Portillo de Silva, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folio 7486). 67 Cf. Birth certificate of Gregoria Herminia Contreras issued by the Civil Registry Office of the Mayor’s Office of San Vicente (evidence file, volume III, attachment 10 to the application, folio 2180); Birth certificate of Serapio Cristian Contreras issued by the Civil Registry Office of the Mayor’s Office of San Vicente (evidence file, volume III, attachment 11 to the application, folio 2182), and Birth certificate of Julia Inés Contreras issued by the Civil Registry Office of the Mayor’s Office of Tecoluca (evidence file, volume III, attachment 12 to the application, folio 2184). 68 Cf. Statement made by María Maura Contreras before notary public (affidavit) on April 30, 2011 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folio 7508); Statement made by Fermín Recinos before notary public (affidavit) on April 30, 2011 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folio 7521), and Testimony given by Gregoria Herminia Contreras before the Inter-American Court during the public hearing held on May 17, 2011. 69 Cf. Statement made by María Maura Contreras, supra note 68 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folios 7507 and 7508); Statement made by Fermín Recinos, supra note 68 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folios 7520 and 7521); Testimony given by Gregoria Herminia Contreras before the Inter-American Court during the public hearing held on May 17, 2011; Birth certificate of Marta Daisy Leiva issued by the Civil Registry Office of the Mayor’s Office of San Vicente (evidence file, volume VIII, attachment 45 to the pleadings, motions and evidence brief, folios 5036 a 5037), and Death certificate of Nelson Contreras issued by the Civil Registry Office of the Mayor’s Office of San Vicente (evidence file, volume VIII, attachment 45 to the pleadings, motions and evidence brief, folio 5038). 70 Cf. Decision issued by the Ombudsman’s Office in case SS-0449-96 on March 30, 1998 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 15 to the application, folio 2205), and Decision issued by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice in habeas corpus proceeding 215-2000 on February 17, 2003 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 13 to the application, folio 2188).