Hear My Testimony: Maria Teresa Tula Human Rights Activist of El Salvador [Paperback]

Maria Teresa Tula (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

While military solutions to social problems take an awful toll in human suffering, the military's gain in wealth and power is apt to make it reluctant to support peace unless funds are cut off. Tiny, overpopulated El Salvador has recently emerged from a savage 13-year civil war that devastated the country. The war, in reality an agrarian movement to rectify the ownership of over half the land by two percent of the people, gave rise to such human rights abuses that thousands were massacred or fled abroad. Protests by women in turn made them aware of their own status as a disadvantaged group. The author herself was transformed from a peasant to an international human rights activist. Those who know Latin America will not be surprised at her story; a similar story is Nidia Diaz's I Was Never Alone: A Prison Diary from El Salvador (Ocean, 1992). For large collections.
Louise Leonard, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Wondervu, Col.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: South End Press (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896084841
• ISBN-13: 978-0896084841
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #570,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > History > Americas > Central America > El Salvador

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courageous woman uncovers torture, coverups and femicide, April 15, 2008

By 

GreatMovieCriticForever - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hear My Testimony: Maria Teresa Tula Human Rights Activist of El Salvador (Paperback)

While the summary gives away some hints of the book there is a lot more to be covered specifically how Maria Tulsa uncovers how much of the torture, murders and government terrorism in El Salvador was aided by the United States. That's probably what people should focus on the most. Even in today's age the hypocritical points the finger at Iraq and other countries for sponsoring terrorism yet has aided terrorism and dictatorships in places like Argentina, Guatemala, Chile, Nicaragua (Samoza dynasty) and many more country.

Some things never change. Anyhow, as mentioned Maria herself is born not just from a poor family but a poor crazy family. Her mother and father are simply terrible cruel parents who don't give her daughter anything, her siblings abuse her and low and behold it's her Grandmother who is the only person that Maria can honestly call a relative.

Later on she marries, and her husband is murdered by the government and labeled as a terrorist for striking. Maria can't even find her husband's dead body to claim (something that happened in other countries like Argentina where the government exterminated thousands of people yet wouldn't even tell loved ones where their victims bodies where). Simply disgusting. Maria's story is very familiar to people who have done research and have lived through this sort of thing.

She didn't just become a victim but an activist starting the Co-Madres group. Her story is sad but inspirational it really deserves more attention than just the three reviews here on Amazon.com

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very courageous person, August 22, 1999

By 

[e-mail] or Nate Christopher (University of Wisconsin Eau Claire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hear My Testimony: Maria Teresa Tula Human Rights Activist of El Salvador (Paperback)

It is amazing to see what kind of atrocities go on in other parts of the world. What's even more of a shock are the institutions put in place to keep the masses oppressed for the benefit of a few. This book opened my eyes to the widespread repercussions of the cold war, and how the US supported tyranous regimes in the name of "defending democracy".

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book should be read by any person of domestic violence,, February 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hear My Testimony: Maria Teresa Tula Human Rights Activist of El Salvador (Paperback)

this is the best book i have ever read. it is very exicting and uplifting. Maria Tula is one of the most courageous individuals i have read about. being a woman i want to use maria as a model for myself and my future daughters. any one who has experiecned domestic violence should read this book because she expereinced and overcame it. please read and recommend this book to women and men.