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
Toribio describes an invasion and aerial bombing campaign that happened between 1980 and 1981.
Pedro describes how members of ORDEN killed his uncle and another woman.
Emeteria describes the brutal massacre of six women in the town of El Rincón on May 8, 1980.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Juana describes the hardships involved in the guinda, during which finding food was a challenge.
Hermelinda remembers losing her children and three other close relatives during the “May Guinda.”
Carlota recalls the first large-scale military operations which drove the population to flee.
Explore all videos in Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
Virginia describes life at the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras, and her challenging trip back to Arcatao.
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.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Edwin gives detailed testimony of his arrest and interrogation in Honduras.
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
Rosa relates her experience of the 1986 invasion, which took place shortly after she and her family had resettled in Arcatao.
Élida provides an account of the long walks she and others had to take from Arcatao to Chalatenango in order to obtain food supplies, and tells about the first religious procession community members participated in after resettling Arcatao.
Emeteria remembers the process of resettlement in Guarjila after returning from the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras.
Explore all videos in Chapter 6: Resettlement & the "Desembarco"
Trinidad explains why historical memory is so important to avoiding the repetition of history.
Herlindo reflects that El Salvador has made progress following the war.
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 explains her philosophy of struggle for social change.
Dionisa demands justice and accountability for those who committed crimes.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice