This article was updated at 5:59 p.m.

The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, the group which identifies children born in captivity to parents illegally detained and forcibly disappeared during the dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, have announced via social media that they have identified their 140th grandchild. They confirmed he is the son of political activists Graciela Alicia Romero and Raúl Eugenio Metz, who remain disappeared.

He was born on April 17, 1977, at the Bahía Blanca “La Escuelita” clandestine detention and torture center, as learned through testimonies from Graciela’s captivity. His mother was five months pregnant when she was kidnapped along with Raúl. They had a one-year-old daughter, Adriana, who was raised by her grandparents and went on to lead the search for her long-lost brother as she grew up.

The grandson and his true family learned the big news on Friday.

Estela de Carlotto, head of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, confirmed the news on Monday by reading a press release at their headquarters, the Casa de la Identidad (House of Identity). Hugs, emotion-filled voices and smiles were present around the room where members of the Abuelas organization, the human rights secretariat, human rights activists and the press awaited the major announcement.

“His sister Adriana always searched for him, always. Raised by her grandparents, always a weaver, she built a network that shelters her, and today she also embraces her brother in a long-awaited reunion,” the press release said.

“For us, this is a blessing to carry on despite the circumstances. Grandmothers announce with great happiness the return of another grandson,” the organization added in the release. “We confirm once again that our grandchildren are among us, and thanks to the constant struggle of 47 years, they will continue to appear.”

According to the information provided by the Abuelas, the parents of the newly identified grandson were originally from Bahía........

© Buenos Aires Herald