Human rights organizations and relatives of former Nicaraguan indigenous representative Brooklyn Rivera, 71 years old, joined together to demand proof of life seven months away his arrestsince they consider that he is “disappeared.”
Rivera, an indigenous Miskitu and leader of the Nicaraguan political organization YATAMA, was arrested on September 29, 2023 by agents of the National Police, who extracted him from his home in the Caribbean of the country.
“The family and friends have searched in all possible places and the only thing the police have told us is that he is in the hands of the presidency and that we should not ask anything about him again,” his daughter Tininiska Rivera told the Voice of America.
Rivera’s arrest took place six months after he participated in the Permanent Forum on indigenous affairs at the United Nations, where he denounced the situation of indigenous people under the administration of President Daniel Ortega.
The Ortega government has not made any statements regarding Rivera’s case, nor have judicial authorities released the charges against Rivera following his arrest.
In the Nicaraguan judicial system, more than eight appeals appear for the indigenous leader to be presented without any response.
Various human rights organizations classify the case as a “forced disappearance”, considering that he has not been seen for 7 months and without criminal charges being filed against him.
In February 2021, Nicaraguan deputies approved a reform and addition to Law 406, of the Criminal Procedure Code, to extend from 48 hours to up to 90 days the period for which a person can be detained, alleging that it would be to carry out “deeper” investigations. “. However, Rivera’s case has exceeded 90 days.
His daughter indicated that they did not know Rivera’s health condition, or where he was kept. “We do not know his state of health, where he is, or what prison they are keeping him in, and they have not told the family what they are accusing him of,” she reiterated.
Last February, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the State of Nicaragua to release Congressman Brooklyn and his substitute representative Nancy Henríquez, who is detained in the La Esperanza women’s prison.
“The Inter-American Court of Human Rights resolves to grant provisional measures to Mr. Brooklyn Rivera Bryan and Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez, who are deprived of liberty and requires the State to immediately proceed with their release.”
Both indigenous deputies were detained prior to the regional elections in November 2023, which prevented their party from participating in the elections.
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