23 the sisters of María Nely, Santos Verónica and Avenicio, all with the last name Portillo,58 as well as of Etelvina Mejía Ramírez, Carmelina’s twin. In 1981, Ana Julia and Carmelina were living with their aunt Eloisa Portillo and their father, together with other family members, in the canton of Cerro Pando, because their mother was working in San Francisco Gotera.59 Also, at that time, their brother Avenicio Portillo was a soldier was stationed at the San Francisco Gotera Barracks.60 59. The State has acknowledged that, during a counterinsurgency operation called “Operation Rescue,” the Armed Forces arrived in the canton of Cerro Pando on December 13, 1981. Members of the Armed Forces entered the home of the Mejía Ramírez family, executing those they found there.61 Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez “had hidden in the bushes, [so it was not until] other troops passed by that they were found and, upon emerging, they saw their family members dead.”62 60. Later, Ester Pastora Guevara, the girls’ godmother, who was taking refuge in the house of Herminia Argueta, saw members of the Armed Forces in charge of the operation pass by with Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez. This was how Ester Pastora learned of the situation and the soldiers decided to leave the girls with her. Ms. Guevara bathed them and changed them.63 In the afternoon of the same day, as the State has acknowledged, members of the Atlacatl Battalion appeared and took Ana Julia and Carmelina, who were fourteen and seven years old, respectively. The same day, near the Meanguera church, they were seen for the last time in the custody of the soldier of the said Battalion together with other children. The following day, the troops were gone, as were the children.64 Mejía Ramírez issued by the Civil Registry Office of the Meanguera Mayor’s Office (evidence file, volume III, attachment 21 to the application, folio 2316). 58 Cf. Birth certificates of María Nely Portillo, Santos Verónica Portillo and Avenicio Portillo issued by the Meanguera Mayor’s Office (evidence file, volume VIII, attachment 44 to the pleadings, motions and evidence brief, folios 5028 to 5032). 59 Cf. Statement made by Arcadia Ramírez Portillo before notary public (affidavit) on May 3, 2011 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folios 7494 to 7495); Statement made by Reina Dionila Portillo de Silva before notary public (affidavit) on April 30, 2011 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folios 7481 and 7483); Aggrieved party’s statement made by Arcadia Ramírez Portillo on April 7, 1997, before the Second Court of First Instance of San Francisco Gotera (evidence file, volume III, attachment 26 to the application, folio 2332), and Sworn statement of Ester Pastora Guevara de Reyes made before notary public on September 2, 2005 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 30 to the application, folio 2355). 60 Cf. Statement made by Arcadia Ramírez Portillo, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume XI, affidavits, folio 7495); Sworn statement of Eusebio Martínez made before notary public on September 1, 2005 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 29 to the application, folio 2343), and Sworn statement of Ester Pastora Guevara de Reyes, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 30 to the application, folio 2354). 61 Cf. Testimony of Ester Pastora Guevara before the Second Court of First Instance of San Francisco Gotera on June 10, 1997 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 24 to the application, folios 2326 a 2327); Testimony of Eusebio Martínez Luna before the Second Court of First Instance of San Francisco Gotera on February 19, 1999 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 28 to the application, folio 2337); Testimony of María Lucrecia Romero before the Second Court of First Instance of San Francisco Gotera on February 19, 1999 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 28 to the application, folio 2338); Sworn statement of Eusebio Martínez, supra note 60, (evidence file, volume III, attachment 29 to the application, folio 2346), and Sworn statement of Ester Pastora Guevara de Reyes, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 30 to the application, folio 2354). 62 Sworn statement of Ester Pastora Guevara de Reyes, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 30 to the application, folio 2354). 63 Cf. Sworn statement of Ester Pastora Guevara de Reyes, supra note 59 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 30 to the application, folios 2353 to 2354). 64 Cf. Testimony of José Santos Argueta before the Second Court of First Instance of San Francisco Gotera on June 10, 1997 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 25 to the application, folios 2329 to 2330), and Statement made by Eusebio Martínez, supra note 60 (evidence file, volume III, attachment 29 to the application, folios 2345 and 2346).