home of Israel Marquez, 31 clusters of bone fragments were recovered (12 adults, 4 children
under 3 years of age, and the remainder impossible to identify), and ashes from a fire.101 As to
the sex, most were from female individuals; however, their identification and the cause of death
were indeterminate, although it can be inferred from the ballistic evidence that, before being
burned, the individuals were murdered with high-speed firearms.102
93.
As acknowledged by the State and established by Tutela Legal del Arzobispado in its
reports, the younger women were taken to the outskirts of the village, especially to “Cerro El
Chingo” and “Cerro La Cruz”, where members of the army raped them before murdering
them.103
94.
Then, the younger children, who had remained in the house of Alfredo Márquez, were
executed, some in the house and others in and outside the convent.104 At that time, according to
Rufina Amaya’s testimony, “the screams of a child could be heard who cried and begged for his
mother,” so “a soldier ordered: ‘[g]o and kill that bastard’; they did not kill him properly,’ and
shortly afterwards there was a shot and nothing else was heard.”105 Most of the children were
killed inside the convent, a cottage located next to the church, which was then set on fire.106
More than 95% of the 143 individuals identified were children, with an average age of 6 years
old.107 The people found in the convent died there or their bodies were deposited there when
they still had soft tissue.108 Consequently, it was concluded that at least some individuals were
(evidence file, tome III, annex 23 to the submission of the case, folio 1661); Victim statement made by Rufina Amaya
before the Second First Instance Court of San Francisco Gotera on March 11, 1991 (evidence file, tome III, annex 23 to
the submission of the case, folio 1746), and Record of judicial inspection in the village of El Mozote, jurisdiction of
Meanguera, department of Morazán, on May 27, 1992 (evidence file, tome III, annex 23 to the submission of the case,
folios 1958 and 1959).
101
Cf. Report of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF) on the exhumation work performed in 2001
(evidence file, tome VI, annex 28 to the submission of the case, folios 4440 and 4488).
102
Cf. Report of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF) on the exhumation work performed in 2001
(evidence file, tome VI, annex 28 to the submission of the case, folio 4489).
103
Cf. Tutela Legal del Arzobispado de San Salvador, Las ejecuciones masivas en el village of El Mozote y otros
sitios aledaños. July 23, 1992, p. 8 (evidence file, tome II, annex 9 to the submission of the case, folio 1470); Tutela
Legal del Arzobispado de San Salvador, El Mozote. Lucha por la verdad y la justicia: Masacre a la Inocencia, San
Salvador, El Salvador, 2008, pp. 57 and 333 (evidence file, tome VIII, annex 2 to the pleadings and motions brief, folios
5302 and 5456), and Rufina Amaya, Mark Danner and Carlos Henríquez, “Luciérnagas en El Mozote,” San Salvador, 8th
ed., 2008, p. 68 (evidence file, tome X, annex 10.1 to the pleadings and motions brief, folio 6526).
104
Cf. Sworn statement made by Rufina Amaya Vda. de Márquez before the Oficina de Tutela Legal del
Arzobispado on October 10, 1990 (evidence file, tome II, annex 20 to the submission of the case, folios 1576 to 1577);
Witness statement made by Rufina Amaya before the Second First Instance Court of San Francisco Gotera on October
30, 1990 (evidence file, tome III, annex 23 to the submission of the case, folio 1662); Report of the Truth Commission
for El Salvador, From madness to hope: the 12-year war in El Salvador, 1992-1993 (evidence file, tome II, annex 1 to
the submission of the case, folio 1196); Complaint filed before the Second First Instance Court of San Francisco Gotera
by Pedro Chicas Romero on October 26, 1990 (evidence file, tome II, annex 21 to the submission of the case, folio
1581), and Tutela Legal del Arzobispado de San Salvador, El Mozote. Lucha por la verdad y la justicia: Masacre a la
Inocencia, San Salvador, El Salvador, 2008, pp. 57 and 58 (evidence file, tome VIII, annex 2 to the pleadings and
motions brief, folios 5302 and 5303). See also, Record of judicial inspection in the village of El Mozote, jurisdiction of
Meanguera, department of Morazán, on May 27, 1992 (evidence file, tome III, annex 23 to the submission of the case,
folios 1957 and 1958).
105
Cf. Sworn statement made by Rufina Amaya Vda. de Márquez before the Oficina de Tutela Legal del
Arzobispado on October 10, 1990 (evidence file, tome II, annex 20 to the submission of the case, folio 1577).
106
Cf. Archeological report, Village of El Mozote, Site 1, prepared by the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team
(EAAF), December 1992 (evidence file, tome IV, annex 23 to the submission of the case, folio 2928). See also, Record of
judicial inspection in the village of El Mozote, jurisdiction of Meanguera, department of Morazán, on May 27, 1992
(evidence file, tome III, annex 23 to the submission of the case, folio 1957).
107
Cf. Report on the forensic investigation in the village of El Mozote, Site 1, prepared by Clyde C. Snow, Robert H.
Kirschner, Douglas D. Scott and John J. Fitzpatrick, dated December 10, 1992 (evidence file, tome VI, annex 24 to the
submission of the case, folio 4022), and Communication of Clyde C. Snow, Robert H. Kirschner, Douglas D. Scott and
John J. Fitzpatrick, addressed to the Second First Instance Judge of San Francisco Gotera, of December 10, 1992
(evidence file, tome V, annex 23 to the submission of the case, folio 3525).
108
Cf. Archeological report, Village of El Mozote, Site 1, prepared by the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team
(EAAF), December 1992 (evidence file, tome IV, annex 23 to the submission of the case, folio 2931).
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