Causes of the War
Obdulio connects the origins of the war to the injustices that the Salvadoran government put its people through.
Organizing
Causes of the War
Cástulo shares his thoughts on the causes of the war, the injustices and oppression he witnessed, and how that fueled political organization.
Changing the System
Rosa explains her philosophy of struggle for social change.
Community-trained Teachers
Obdulio describes the war left Arcatao without priests, and community-trained teachers (called “popular teachers”) began to emerge around 1987.
Detained by the Army
Nelson explains he was arrested for disobeying orders by the army to participate in paramilitary patrols.
Early Political Participation
Alberto describes his early days of political participation as a student and explains how the National Guard used blacklists as repression intensified.
Founding a Development Organization
Obdulio explains his role in founding the CCR (Association of Communities for the Development of Chalatenango).
Initial Resettlements
Lucía relates the challenges experienced as she and her family made the trip back home to San Antonio Los Ranchos after being refugees in Honduras.
Joining the Guerrilla as a Cook
Carlota explains how she joined the guerrilla as a cook.
Joining the Rural Workers Union
Pedro remembers when he joined the UTC (Rural Workers’ Union), which would have secret meetings so as to avoid repression.
Leaving Home
Hermelinda remembers being pregnant the first time people in Arcatao left their homes, around 1980, when generalized repression began against the civilian population and everyone had to leave town.
Life in the Mesa Grande Refugee Camp
Élida explains how people were organized inside the Mesa Grande refugee camp in Honduras and describes her return to Arcatao.