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.
Margarita shares her views on the inequality, poverty, and exclusion that led rural Salvadorans to organize.
Damián reflects on the social inequality and social demands that led to the civil war, as well as rural organizing and the founding of the Union of Field Workers (UTC) in 1975.
Explore all videos in Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
Otilia remembers soldiers storming in during a religious ceremony and killing her brother.
Alberto narrates how his older brother, who was mentally ill, died during a military operation.
Alberto describes his early days of political participation as a student and explains how the National Guard used blacklists as repression intensified.
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.
Hermelinda remembers losing her children during the “May Guinda,” and says she always wondered whether the military had taken them away.
Arminda describes what it was like to be on the run during the “May Guinda.”
Explore all videos in Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
Edith describes living without shelter near the Honduran border and her family’s separation.
Gregorio explains that he never chose to take refuge in a camp.
Dionisia describes how her husband never made it to the refugee camp Mesa Grande in Honduras, as he was captured and assassinated.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Margarita describes her work as a nurse in the Rama Caida camp.
Edwin describes being sent by his superiors to do logistical work for the guerrilla 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
Obdulio describes the war left Arcatao without priests, and community-trained teachers (called “popular teachers”) began to emerge around 1987.
Hermelinda remembers how a nun’s initiative helped prompt a community embroidery group in 1989.
Isabel remembers the 1986 invasion known as the “Desembarco” happened only a few days after the “El Carreño” military operation.
Explore all videos in Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
Herlindo reflects that El Salvador has made progress following the war.
Reflecting on the Peace Accords, Evangelina sees connections between the violence of yesterday and today.
Esperanza analyzes the changes she saw in El Salvador following the Peace Accords.
Explore all videos in Chapter 7: Peace Accords & Post-War
Edwin speaks of various means of achieving justice for survivors of the armed conflict.
Dionisa demands justice and accountability for those who committed crimes.
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