Reasons for Organizing
Margarita shares her views on the inequality, poverty, and exclusion that led rural Salvadorans to organize.
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.
Margarita shares her views on the inequality, poverty, and exclusion that led rural Salvadorans to organize.
Víctor reflects on the reasons that led people to organize.
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
Rosa tells how her grandmothers were murdered by the National Guard.
Anibal describes an attack on his family in which his father and sister killed, and he and his mother were wounded.
Faustina remembers the daily exchanges with soldiers, which leads her to think they were not evil themselves but rather trained to do evil things.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Santiago describes cooperation between Honduran, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran military forces.
Juana relates her difficult experience during the May Guinda, attempting to cross the Sumpul River with her four children.
Hermelinda remembers losing her children and three other close relatives during the “May Guinda.”
Explore all videos in Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
Isidora recalls her experience in the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras, describing how activities within the camp were divided up between people living there.
Eduardo describes life in the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras and the resettlement of Arcatao.
Dionisia describes how her husband never made it to the refugee camp Mesa Grande in Honduras, as he was captured and assassinated.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Santiago describes his experience of multiple military operations, the “May Guinda,” and the disappearance of children.
Maximina describes the operation that led to the Zapote massacre, in which her pregnant sister and Commander Jesús Rojas died.
Edwin describes his role in transporting weapons for the guerrilla to and from Honduras and his arrest.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Margarita describes a time during the 1986 invasion when she thought her husband had been killed.
Evangelina describes the 1986 “Desembarco” invasion and massacre in Arcatao, and explains how the intervention of foreign journalists prevented killings of greater magnitude.
Faustina narrates her experience during the 1986 invasion, during which people were intimidated, tortured, and killed by the military.
Explore all videos in Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
Santiago points out the importance of historical memory as a valuable legacy for future generations.
Trinidad explains why historical memory is so important to avoiding the repetition of history.
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 explains her opinions on economic reparations and the need to struggle against impunity.
Rosa comments on the importance of having the remains of her two grandmothers exhumed.
Eduardo calls out to all countries in the world with a message against war.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice