Arminda describes what it was like to be on the run during the “May Guinda.”
- Chapter:
- Chapter 3: The Years of "Guindas"
- Interviewee:
- Arminda
Transcription
In 1982 when the massacre took place, we went to Los Amates. Maybe you've heard of it. The doctors sent us from La Laguna to Los Amates, because we were taking care of the wounded. There was an invasion going on, which meant there were enemies everywhere. When we got to Los Amates... When we got to Los Amates... no, to Santa Anita, we stayed there with all the wounded people. They told us were would stay there. But in the morning they sent us to Los Amates, where there were already enemies, soldiers. They helped us cross the river in canoes, with all the wounded. But there was no way to get through on the other side, since there were soldiers there too and we had all the wounded people with us. So we decided to go back, otherwise we'd just have to run for our lives. Many people were left behind, wounded people. What could we have done? The May 14 invasion in 1982 was already going on, so that's why we ended moving through so many places. We came to Chichilco hill again, night after night we walked with all the wounded. During the day, we had to remain under cover because we passed through places that were being resettled. During the nights, we had to keep walking and the rainy season was starting. This happened in May.
[The Guinda de Mayo?]
The famous Guinda de Mayo. We were coming and going between camps.