The indigenous Miskitos of Nicaragua fleeing for the socio -political crisis that this Central American country is experiencing can access forms to request refuge in Costa Rica in their own language, said the refuge unit of the latter country.
The Miskito is the language of the indigenous communities of the Miskita of the Caribbean of Nicaragua and that, according to various organizations that defend the rights of migrants, are found in a “vulnerability condition, since they present difficulties with communication.”
“This is something historical for us. Since the years (19), the Nicaraguan indigenous people have been exiled for various causes,” he told the Voice of America Rendell Herbert López, secretary of the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples and Afro -descendants (APIAN).
“The indigenous peoples have great barriers when we exile, one of them is the cultural issue, the language. This will help us to have greater understanding when requesting refuge. With this the organizations and the government of Costa Rica is giving a great contribution,” López added.
Costa Rica is, after the United States, the main destination of Nicaraguans who exile for the political crisis that this Central American country has been experiencing since 2018, when protests arose against President Daniel Ortega, but also for various causes, such as the civil war of the 1970s and 1980s.
The translation of the form was promoted by various organizations, including the Intercultural Association of Human Rights (Asidehu), the Association Voices Sacuanjoche (Avodis) and People In Need (Pin).
Brisa Bucardo, indigenous Miskito, a journalist and human rights defender who collaborated with the process of translation of the document mentioned the Voa that the document will serve to “accompany the natives” in this process.
“The indigenous people live many things when migrating, there are barriers, among other things,” said Bucardo.
[El periodista de la VOA en Costa Rica, Donaldo Hernández, colaboró con este informe]
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