Causes of the War
Obdulio connects the origins of the war to the injustices that the Salvadoran government put its people through.
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.
Obdulio connects the origins of the war to the injustices that the Salvadoran government put its people through.
Clara recalls the Soccer War between El Salvador and Honduras, and staying behind with her children while her husband slept somewhere in the mountains.
Herlindo shares his view on the causes of the Salvadoran civil war and the general consequences that armed conflicts bring about.
Explore all videos in Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
Rosa tells how her grandmothers were murdered by the National Guard.
Anibal describes an attack on his family in which his father and sister killed, and he and his mother were wounded.
Arminda remembers experiencing the first bombings as a child and being so curious she wasn’t even scared.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Virginia remembers the “May Guinda” and how she and her children managed to survive.
Celestino describes the symptoms of trauma faced during the war.
Amanda remembers years of military operations which led the civilian population to flee in fear of being massacred.
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.”
Virginia describes life at the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras, and her challenging trip back to Arcatao.
Gregorio explains that he never chose to take refuge in a camp.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Edwin describes being sent by his superiors to do logistical work for the guerrilla in Honduras.
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 describes his detention and torture in Honduras.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Lucía relates the challenges experienced as she and her family made the trip back home to San Antonio Los Ranchos after being refugees in Honduras.
Virginia remembers the 1986 “Desembarco” invasion in Arcatao, in which seven men were killed by the military, and explains how events were changed by the reports of foreign journalists who were arrested during the operation.
Carlota remembers a grenade explosion in her home during the 1986 invasion and the threats to the civilian population inside the town church.
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 why historical memory is so important to avoiding the repetition of history.
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.
Rosa explains her philosophy of struggle for social change.
Eduardo calls out to all countries in the world with a message against war.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice