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.
Edwin explains how state respression of movements for change led to the decision to take up armed struggle.
Edith describes her childhood and how household labor was divided among family members.
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.
Víctor remembers a few iconic moments of his political involvement prior to the armed conflict: the 1975 student massacre, his participation in the UTC, and his experience of detainment and torture by the National Guard in 1976.
Arminda remembers experiencing the first bombings as a child and being so curious she wasn’t even scared.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Rufino remembers the efforts people made to cross the Sumpul River during the “May Guinda.”
Virginia narrates how she fled from military operations with her children and recounts the day her nine-year-old son died, and she was unable to bury him.
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"
Lucía describes how people were organized at the Mesa Grande refugee camp and why she finally decided to return home.
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
Trinidad tells how she was informed of son’s death in the guerrilla, and she describes a back injury that she suffered due to a mortar explosion.
Edwin gives detailed testimony of his arrest and interrogation in Honduras.
Celestino tells the history of military repression and the early phase of armed resistance in Chalatenango leading up to the “Final Offensive” of 1981.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Rosa relates her experience of the 1986 invasion, which took place shortly after she and her family had resettled in Arcatao.
Lidia remembers the 1986 “Desembarco” invasion of Arcatao and tells how she was threatened during the weeks prior to the invasion.
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"
Juana urges governments around the world to prevent the destruction and pain caused by 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
Rosa explains her opinions on economic reparations and the need to struggle against impunity.
Rosa reflects on the importance of historical memory.
Eduardo calls out to all countries in the world with a message against war.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice