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.
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.
Herlindo shares his view on the causes of the Salvadoran civil war and the general consequences that armed conflicts bring about.
Evangelina remembers her childhood days of fishing on the Lempa River.
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
Patricia describes an episode in which women were treated aggressively in public by members of ORDEN.
Ramón describes how the capture of a member of the National Guard by the guerrilla unleashed more violence at the hands of the military; an example of this was the massacre of six women at El Rincón.
Rosa explains her role in political organizing, she recounts the 1980 El Rincón massacre and the killings of her parents, and describes the role of clandestine militias.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Rosa describes how the “May Guinda” of 1982 was the hardest guinda of all, and how during those 27 days her brother and other relatives died.
Cástulo describes a massacre at Las Aradas on the Sumpul River in 1980 and shares some general reflections on the destructiveness of war.
Berta describes her experience during the “May Guinda” and a massacre of civilians during the crossing of the Sumpul River.
Explore all videos in Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
Pedro describes his experience living in Mesa Grande, a refugee camp in Honduras, and shares his memories of resettling in Guarjila.
Isabel describes the difficulties of life in the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras.
Edith describes living without shelter near the Honduran border and her family’s separation.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Edwin describes his role in transporting weapons for the guerrilla to and from Honduras and his arrest.
Walter remembers being a guerrilla during the 1982 “May Guinda” and surviving alongside his comrades.
Carlota explains how she joined the guerrilla as a cook.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Toribio remembers the 1986 invasion of Arcatao, known as the “Desembarco”, and how he and his family fled town to hide in a cave.
Lidia describes her experience of the 1986 “Desembarco” invasion of Arcatao in detail, pointing out how the arrest of foreign journalists changed the course of events.
Dionisia remembers an episode in 1987, right after resettling in Guarjila, when the dropping of a bomb harmed her children.
Explore all videos in Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
Trinidad explains the military did not fully abide by the Peace Accords during the resettlment process.
Reflecting on the Peace Accords, Evangelina sees connections between the violence of yesterday and today.
Walter explains that combat between government forces and the guerrillas intensified during the negotiation of 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.
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