It's incredible the hidden historical and cultural gems that are buried and completely disregarded in this country. On the one hand it's a completely unique and unadulterated experience, walking through the heavy wooden doors that machetes hacked away at with animus intent, to explore the historic interior completely free of any supervision. On the other it's alarming and saddening to see such beautiful historic buildings such as Casa Barrientos in Izalco, literally crumbling to pieces before your very eyes.
In December of 1931 civil unrest peaked due to the collapse of coffee prices on the international market. Full on fighting broke out on January 22, 1932, led by communist insurgents, and the peasant revolution which pretty much anihilated all of El Salvador's indigenous communities, began. Angry peasants and farmers gathered in front of Casa Barrientos Frankenstein style with machetes and pitchforks, yelling in protest at the unjust conditions and results of the agricultural reform. Military forces intervened and the rest is history.
Today, not much has changed. As a result of that war, many legal property titles were lost or destroyed and the ownership of these properties was reassigned to members of the Salvadoran military. Farmers who for generations have lived off the land, since 1932 have been forced to pay a portion of their proceeds to those in power. After talking to agricultural farmers in Nahuizalco, it seems that these farmers will be forced to relocate once again to undisclosed location in January 2013.
In December of 1931 civil unrest peaked due to the collapse of coffee prices on the international market. Full on fighting broke out on January 22, 1932, led by communist insurgents, and the peasant revolution which pretty much anihilated all of El Salvador's indigenous communities, began. Angry peasants and farmers gathered in front of Casa Barrientos Frankenstein style with machetes and pitchforks, yelling in protest at the unjust conditions and results of the agricultural reform. Military forces intervened and the rest is history.
Today, not much has changed. As a result of that war, many legal property titles were lost or destroyed and the ownership of these properties was reassigned to members of the Salvadoran military. Farmers who for generations have lived off the land, since 1932 have been forced to pay a portion of their proceeds to those in power. After talking to agricultural farmers in Nahuizalco, it seems that these farmers will be forced to relocate once again to undisclosed location in January 2013.
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