The Soccer War
Clara recalls the Soccer War between El Salvador and Honduras, and staying behind with her children while her husband slept somewhere in the mountains.
Testimony Archive
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. Interviews were conducted during November 2013 through August 2014. 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.
Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
El Salvador’s civil war has its roots in the deeply unequal social structures established during the 16th century Spanish colonization of Central America.
Causes of the War
Herlindo shares his view on the causes of the Salvadoran civil war and the general consequences that armed conflicts bring about.
Fishing on the Lempa River
Evangelina remembers her childhood days of fishing on the Lempa River.
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Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
The 1970s saw escalating tensions and growing violence in El Salvador.
Attack During Religious Ceremony
Otilia remembers soldiers storming in during a religious ceremony and killing her brother.
Growing Up Fatherless
Pedro describes growing up fatherless after soldiers killed his father.
Death of a Brother
Alberto narrates how his older brother, who was mentally ill, died during a military operation.
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Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
During the 1980s, thousands of people were displaced from their homes by violence in rural El Salvador.
What is a “Guinda”?
Hermelinda explains the meaning of the term “guinda”.
Hardships During the “May Guinda”
Aníbal describes the hardships he and his mother experienced during the “May Guinda.”
Fleeing to Honduras
Arminda relates how her family migrated to Honduras and lived among the Honduran population.
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Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Faced with overwhelming violence, displaced populations faced difficult decisions about whether to leave El Salvador, and when to return. Some people sought safety elsewhere within the country.
The Mesa Grande Refugee Camp and Resettlement of Arcatao
Eduardo describes life in the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras and the resettlement of Arcatao.
Life in the Mesa Grande Refugee Camp
Élida explains how people were organized inside the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras and describes her return to Arcatao.
Husband’s Capture
Dionisia describes how her husband never made it to the refugee camp Mesa Grande in Honduras, as he was captured and assassinated.
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Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Salvadorans who supported the guerrilla groups had a wide range of reasons for doing so, and varied experiences in the movement.
Role in the Guerrilla
Maximina explains her sister’s and her role in the guerrilla during the armed conflict.
Tortured in Honduras
Edwin describes his detention and torture in Honduras.
Work in the Guerrilla Camps
Gregorio describes daily life in the guerrilla camps.
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Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
Many Salvadorans returned from refugee camps in Honduras in the late 1980s, but faced continued repression upon their return. Refugees were stigmatized as guerrilla supporters.
The 1986 “Desembarco” Invasion
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.
The 1986 Invasion of Arcatao
Marta narrates her experience of the 1986 invasion of Arcatao, at a time when she was pregnant, and how her husband was killed by the military.
Surviving the 1986 Desembarco
Faustina narrates her experience during the 1986 invasion, during which people were intimidated, tortured, and killed by the military.
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Chapter 7: Peace Accords & Post-War
El Salvador’s civil war officially ended in 1992, but the country continues to experience deep divisions and ongoing issues of inequality, insecurity, violence, and lack of access to justice.
The Peace Accords
Trinidad explains the military did not fully abide by the Peace Accords during the resettlment process.
Changes after the Peace Accords
Esperanza analyzes the changes she saw in El Salvador following the Peace Accords.
The Peace Accords
Walter explains that combat between government forces and the guerrillas intensified during the negotiation of the Peace Accords.
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Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice
Today, survivors of grave human rights violations committed during El Salvador’s civil war continue to struggle for truth and justice.
Changing the System
Rosa explains her philosophy of struggle for social change.
Exhumations
Rosa comments on the importance of having the remains of her two grandmothers exhumed.
Death of a Father
Herlindo explains that his father died during the war and that, decades later, he returned from his life in Sweden to exhume his father’s remains.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice