Testimonies

Testimonies are sorted by publication date, showing the newest first.
Click on to sort by witness, to sort alphabetically by musical piece title, or to sort by publication date.

Friend (Amiga)

Music piece by:
Miguel Bosé
Testimony by:
Carolina Videla
Detention in:
Cárcel Pública de Arica, January 1989
Tags:
« I was 19 years old when they arrested me. I was one of the youngest political prisoners at the time in Arica. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 26 September 2018

Why does the afternoon cry (Por qué llora la tarde)

Music piece by:
Antônio Marcos. Popularised in Chile by Claudio Reyes
Testimony by:
Carolina Videla
Detention in:
Cárcel Pública de Arica, January 1989
Tags:
« My prison term happened during the last year of the dictatorship after the No vote won. I was set free because of 'lack of evidence', after a year and a half in prison. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 26 September 2018

Candombe for José (Candombe para José)

Music piece by:
Roberto Ternán
Testimony by:
Amelia Negrón
Detention in:
Campamento de Prisioneros, Tres Álamos, June 1976
Tags:
« We were in Pavilion 1. One of us came up with the idea, I can’t remember who. There were so many of us and we spent the day inventing and creating things! »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 24 August 2018

Sinner, come to sweet Jesus (Pecador, ven al dulce Jesús)

Music piece by:
Unknown
Testimony by:
anonymous
Detention in:
Cárcel de Valdivia / Cárcel de Isla Teja, September 1973
Tags:
« One time, a group of male and female evangelicals came to Teja Island to preach. They were taken to the visitors’ yard. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 13 January 2018

Fifth Symphony

Music piece by:
Ludwig van Beethoven
Testimony by:
anonymous
Detention in:
Cárcel de Valdivia / Cárcel de Isla Teja, September 1973
Tags:
« I like all classical music, particularly Beethoven and Mozart. I listen to it all day on Radio Esperanza, on the bus I drive. The passengers like it. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 13 January 2018

National Anthem of Chile

Music piece by:
Eusebio Lillo and Ramón Carnicer
Testimony by:
anonymous
Detention in:
Cárcel de Valdivia / Cárcel de Isla Teja, September 1973
Tags:
« I was detained in Panguipulli on 24 September 1973, along with 17 other young people. I was a high school student. I was also working at the forestry and logging company of Huilo Huilo, which had been taken over by the working class. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 13 January 2018

Luchín

Music piece by:
Víctor Jara
Testimony by:
anonymous
Detention in:
Cárcel de Valdivia / Cárcel de Isla Teja, September 1973
Tags:
« They said that once you got to the prison of Teja Island, you were safe. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 13 January 2018

The Wall (La muralla)

Music piece by:
Nicolás Guillén (lyrics) and Quilapayún (music)
Testimony by:
Domingo Lizama
Detention in:
Cárcel de Valdivia / Cárcel de Isla Teja, 1973 - 1978
Tags:
« In prison, there was a guy who played the guitar. He cheered up the afternoons in the cell. We all sang with him. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 22 November 2017

Three White Lilies (Tres blancos lirios)

Music piece by:
Unknown composer. This song probably relates to European early-years pedagogy.
Testimony by:
Domingo Lizama
Detention in:
Cárcel de Valdivia / Cárcel de Isla Teja, 9 October 1973
Tags:
« They arrested me at my workplace in October 1973 . I was 31 years old and worked as a porter at a logging business in Chumpullo, near Valdivia. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 22 November 2017

Free (Libre)

Music piece by:
José Luis Armenteros and Pablo Herrero, popularised by Nino Bravo.
Testimony by:
Paicavi Painemal
Detention in:
Comisaría de Carabineros N° 2, Temuco, 22 April 1985
Tags:
« I’m from Chol Chol, part of the Coihue community. I was arrested along with 12 other people and they took us to the Second Police Station of Temuco. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 22 November 2017