16 71. The exhumation work conducted to date has provided elements consistent with these descriptions. For example, during the exhumations of 1992, the expert from the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF), Luis Fondebrider, said that “what we are finding is that more than 90% of the remains are of children under the age of 13 (...) some had bullet holes (...) many head skull fractures and in many cases the bones were more decomposed because they were not completely formed, they were 62 children’s bones.” 72. The report of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team on the exhumations at one of the sites mentioned by the survivor in 1992 concluded that “the evidence points to a mass crime”, where “there was no evidence that could point to any possible confrontation”. As to the number of children who died, the report says that “around 85% of the remains retrieved were those of children under 12 years old”. As well, it notes “the number of bullet fragments that impacted the bodies” and the subsequent 63 burning of the bodies. 73. In a similar vein, the forensic examination report from those exhumations mentions that “there is no evidence to support the argument that the victims, nearly all of whom were small children, had taken part in combats or had been caught in cross-fire between combating forces.” On the contrary, it says that “the physical evidence obtained from the exhumation in the convent of El Mozote confirms the 64 reports of a mass murder.” 74. The two reports agree on the likelihood that the number of persons killed was greater 65 than that recorded . 75. Approximately 494 victims were identified. See. Annex of the present report. 3. Massacre in La Joya canton 66 76. The canton of La Joya lies approximately 3 km southeast of the village of El Mozote . In October 1981 the inhabitants of La Joya had been threatened by soldiers of the Armed Forces, who said they would be looking for guerrillas in Guacamaya but warned them that the soldiers who would be 67 coming “had blacker hearts, they were from the Atlacatl Battalion and they were going to kill everyone”. 77. On December 9, 1981, several residents heard over the radio that a large-scale armed forces operation was under way in the north of Morazán. Just after noon on December 10, a number of helicopters of the Salvadoran armed forces overflew the Canton and landed at Arada Vieja de Los Quebrachos, carrying troops. During the afternoon military personnel opened fire on the canton, throwing 68 the local people into panic . 78. Reactions to the attack varied. Some sought safety immediately, while others waited until nightfall to flee, and some decided not to leave their homes. The men who withdrew did not think that 62 Press report of October 22, 1992, “Mortal remains verify death of Salvadoran children: military battalion accused in the massacre of 1981”. 63 Report of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team on the exhumations conducted in 1992 (Annex D to the petitioners’ communication of November 11, 2002). 64 Forensic Examination Report. El Mozote. El Salvador. B. Clyde Snow. Robert H. Kirschner, Douglas D. Scott and John F. Fitzpratrick. (Annex D to the petitioners’ communication of November 11, 2002). 65 Forensic Examination Report. El Mozote. El Salvador. B. Clyde Snow. Robert H. Kirschner, Douglas D. Scott and John F. Fitzpratrick. (Annex D to the petitioners’ communication of November 11, 2002) and Report of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team on the exhumations conducted in 1992 (Annex D to the petitioners’ communication of November 11, 2002). 66 Tutela Legal. The mass executions in El Mozote and neighboring locales, July 23, 1992 (Annex A to the petitioners’ communication of November 11, 2002). 67 Ibid. 68 Ibid.