Reasons to Organize
Víctor reflects on the reasons that led people 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.
Víctor reflects on the reasons that led people to organize.
Cástulo shares his thoughts on the causes of the war, the injustices and oppression he witnessed, and how that fueled political organization.
Adán remembers the financial hardship experienced by his family when he was a child and which kept him from attending school.
Explore all videos in Chapter 1: Pre-war & The Origins of the War
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.
Nelson describes the burial of women killed at the El Rincón massacre and explains why after 1980 the civilian population and guerrilla stopped burying their dead.
Adán asserts that the Salvadoran Armed Forces did not respect human rights, mentioning the assassination of priests like Archbishop Romero.
Explore all videos in Chapter 2: Rural Organizing & Repression
Rosa remembers the “May Guinda” in 1982 and how she and her family managed to survive.
Hermelinda remembers losing her children and three other close relatives during the “May Guinda.”
Damián describes the massacre of La Quesera, in San Vicente province.
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.
Lucía describes how people were organized at the Mesa Grande refugee camp and why she finally decided to return home.
Edith describes living without shelter near the Honduran border and her family’s separation.
Explore all videos in Chapter 4: Refugee Experiences
Marta describes the difficulty of life as a guerrilla and her process of leaving the organization.
Gregorio describes daily life in the guerrilla camps.
Cástulo describes the kind of organized labor the guerrilla carried out during guindas in order to support the civilian population.
Explore all videos in Chapter 5: Guerrilla Experiences
Obdulio describes the war left Arcatao without priests, and community-trained teachers (called “popular teachers”) began to emerge around 1987.
Margarita describes a time during the 1986 invasion when she thought her husband had been killed.
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 the military did not fully abide by the Peace Accords during the resettlment process.
Esperanza analyzes the changes she saw in El Salvador following the Peace Accords.
Explore all videos in Chapter 7: Peace Accords & Post-War
Isabel reflects on the importance of exhuming the remains of civil war victims.
Eduardo calls out to all countries in the world with a message against war.
Dionisa demands justice and accountability for those who committed crimes.
Explore all videos in Chapter 8: The Struggle for Justice