Music piece by:

unknown. Folk tune from the south of Chile

Testimony by:

Teresa Retamal Silva

Experience in:

Cárcel de Mujeres Buen Pastor, Chillán, May 1974

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The Cárcel Buen Pastor was a compound run by nuns. They called us political prisoners and were anxious to collect information about us to pass it on to our tormentors.

The conditions in the prison were destitute, and we experienced hunger. The space consisted of a large gallery divided into two. The back section was for those prosecuted and convicted for common crimes and for minors detained for running away from their homes. The section at the entrance was designated for political prisoners and housed a single dormitory with numerous beds.

The bathroom was very grim. The large window had no glass and was covered with barbed wire. The wind was a true testimony to human misery. In one of the showers, an endless stream of water ran 24 hours a day. To use the toilets, you had to get around pools of water.

One day, a group of girls approached us to help them create a show for Mother's Day. Among them were Monica, only eleven years old, and her three younger sisters.

We put significant effort into the presentation, which was a great success. The event included various performances, including the folk dance ‘El costillar’ (The Rack). We wore peasant clothes and sang with guitar accompaniment while dancing around two bottles placed on the floor.

The event ended with a very sarcastic fashion parade as we made our costumes out of balloons, bags and cigarette packets, honouring the few means that were available in that place.

During mass in the prison chapel, we had to sing songs like ‘Pescador de hombres’ (Fisher of Men) and ‘Alabaré’ (I’ll Praise). The chapel was the meeting point for all female prisoners.

Mass took place three times a week, and it was endless. The nuns were distributed among the prisoners. You couldn't even hear a breath. I have never forgotten Mother Ismelda, Mother Getrudes, Mother Clara, and Mother Superior Pilar.

I also remember Mother Liria, an elderly woman who lived in seclusion on one side of the building, adjacent to a small courtyard. There, she would feed breadcrumbs to a couple of treilesChilean bird, also known as queltehue. that would cheer her up with their song.