The Origins of the War
Trinidad analyzes the causes that prompted the war.
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.
Trinidad analyzes the causes that prompted the 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.
Evangelina remembers her childhood days of fishing on the Lempa River.
Explore all videos in Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
Toribio describes an invasion and aerial bombing campaign that happened between 1980 and 1981.
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.
Isabel remembers the first days of repression in Arcatao during which the military killed his mother.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Edith remembers experiencing the “May Guinda” as a young girl, including the difficulty of finding food and seeing wounded people all around her.
Gregorio remembers the deployment of 14,000 Salvadoran and Honduran soldiers during the 1982 “May Guinda”, and contrasts this with later military operations.
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.”
Maximina describes the harsh conditions experienced in the refugee camp at La Virtud, Honduras.
Edith describes living without shelter near the Honduran border and her family’s separation.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Marta remembers her recruitment by the guerrilla at age 14 and describes her work as a medical worker within the organization.
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.
Margarita describes her work as a nurse in the Rama Caida camp.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
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.
Hermelinda remembers how a nun’s initiative helped prompt a community embroidery group in 1989.
Damián describes the resettlement process beginning in 1987, during which communal cooperation was an important element.
Explore all videos in Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
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.
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 comments on the importance of having the remains of her two grandmothers exhumed.
Edwin speaks of various means of achieving justice for survivors of the armed conflict.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice