Causes of the War
Obdulio connects the origins of the war to the injustices that the Salvadoran government put its people through.
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.
Fishing on the Lempa River
Evangelina remembers her childhood days of fishing on the Lempa River.
Reasons to Organize
Víctor reflects on the reasons that led people to organize.
Explore all videos in Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
The 1970s saw escalating tensions and growing violence in El Salvador.
Murder of Two Grandmothers
Rosa tells how her grandmothers were murdered by the National Guard.
Torture
Víctor describes being detained along with 18 other people and explains how they were tortured.
Arcatao During the War
Carlota remembers the challenging economic conditions that inhabitants of Arcatao experienced during the war.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
During the 1980s, thousands of people were displaced from their homes by violence in rural El Salvador.
The “May Guinda”
Hermelinda remembers losing her children and three other close relatives during the “May Guinda.”
Fleeing to Honduras
Arminda relates how her family migrated to Honduras and lived among the Honduran population.
The “May Guinda”
Carlota remembers fleeing with her newborn during the “May Guinda” in 1982.
Explore all videos in Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
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.
Mesa Grande and Resettlement
Pedro describes his experience living in Mesa Grande, a refugee camp in Honduras, and shares his memories of resettling in Guarjila.
The Mesa Grande Refugee Camp
Lucía describes how people were organized at the Mesa Grande refugee camp and why she finally decided to return home.
The Mesa Grande Refugee Camp
Evangelina describes living conditions in the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
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.
Captured by the National Guard
Maximina recalls being ill in a guerrilla hospital when she was captured, then taken away in a helicopter, threatened, and transported to San Salvador to be interrogated.
Decision to Desert
Marta describes the difficulty of life as a guerrilla and her process of leaving the organization.
The “May Guinda”
Walter remembers being a guerrilla during the 1982 “May Guinda” and surviving alongside his comrades.
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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: Inside the ChurchPrimary tabs
Clara describes her experience of the 1986 invasion in Arcatao, during which town residents were locked inside the church.
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.
The “El Carreño” Operation
Jorge describes his capture during the “El Carreño” operation in 1986.
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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.
Historical Memory
Santiago points out the importance of historical memory as a valuable legacy for future generations.
The Peace Accords
Trinidad explains the military did not fully abide by the Peace Accords during the resettlment process.
Post-War Progress
Herlindo reflects that El Salvador has made progress following the war.
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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.
Historical Memory
Rosa reflects on the importance of historical memory.
Changing the System
Rosa explains her philosophy of struggle for social change.
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