The Origins of the War
Trinidad analyzes the causes that prompted the war.
Addressing human rights in the wake of human tragedy
The Unfinished Sentences Testimony Archive is composed of oral histories shared by 48 people who were residents of the community of Arcatao, in the department of Chalatenango, El Salvador, during the period of the Salvadoran civil war. More than 170 interview excerpts tell the story of the civil war from the perspective of people who experienced it first-hand. The testimonies are organized into thematic “Chapters” that focus on different aspects of the conflict in roughly chronological order.
Due to the nature of the experiences discussed in the testimonies, users may find the contents of the archive disturbing: topics include rape, torture, death, and severe hardship. On the other hand, the archive also features narratives of resilience, survival, and mutual assistance in triumphing over adversity.
Trinidad analyzes the causes that prompted the war.
Edwin explains how state respression of movements for change led to the decision to take up armed struggle.
Cástulo shares his thoughts on the causes of the war, the injustices and oppression he witnessed, and how that fueled political organization.
Explore all videos in Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
Isidora describes the massacre of six women at El Rincón.
Víctor remembers a few iconic moments of his political involvement prior to the armed conflict: the 1975 student massacre, his participation in the UTC, and his experience of detainment and torture by the National Guard in 1976.
Víctor describes being detained along with 18 other people and explains how they were tortured.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Rosa remembers the “May Guinda” in 1982 and how she and her family managed to survive.
Virginia remembers the “May Guinda” and how she and her children managed to survive.
Carlota recalls the first large-scale military operations which drove the population to flee.
Explore all videos in Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
Rufino remembers when his family decided to flee towards a refugee camp in Honduras during a military operation called “El Carreño.”
Lucía describes how people were organized at the Mesa Grande refugee camp and why she finally decided to return home.
Gregorio explains that he never chose to take refuge in a camp.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Edwin describes his first experiences in armed political activity and how he was wounded during a large military operation led by the Salvadoran Armed Forces with the participation of Guatemalan forces.
Edwin gives detailed testimony of his arrest and interrogation in Honduras.
Esperanza describes the difficulty of finding food after military operations and explains what living conditions were like in the guerrilla camps.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Aníbal describes his trips to the United States to recieve medical care for his injured hands.
Esperanza describes the 1986 invasion in Arcatao, and relates how children were interrogated by the military.
Adán relates the 1986 invasion of Arcatao and describes combat between the guerrilla and military.
Explore all videos in Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
Santiago points out the importance of historical memory as a valuable legacy for future generations.
Trinidad explains the military did not fully abide by the Peace Accords during the resettlment process.
Esperanza analyzes the changes she saw in El Salvador following the Peace Accords.
Explore all videos in Chapter 7: Peace Accords & Post-War
Rosa reflects on the importance of historical memory.
Edwin speaks of various means of achieving justice for survivors of the armed conflict.
Berta relates how her youngest son died and describes her wish for his prompt exhumation.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice