Sawt Falasteen - Nicaraguan Indigenous leader imprisoned under Ortega dies in detention

Rivera, a 73-year-old renowned leader of the Miskito people and former member of parliament, was arrested in September 2023 by the left-wing authoritarian government of President Daniel Ortega on charges that were never made public.

He was considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

"We regret to confirm that he has sadly passed away," the health ministry said in a statement on state-run media outlets.

The ministry said Rivera's "physical and neurological deterioration" was "a consequence of a bacterial infection caused by the COVID-19 virus."

It added that doctors had made "enormous and intensive" efforts to save his life.

Rivera was a leader of the Indigenous party Yatama (Children of Mother Earth United), which defends the rights of Nicaragua's native communities.

On Wednesday, the government had released photos of him hooked up to a ventilator and visibly emaciated, after acknowledging that his situation was "critical."

In the wake of the pictures, the United States had called for Rivera's release.

The authorities never revealed on what grounds he was arrested.

But according to press reports, in November 2024 the government told the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that his parliamentary immunity had been lifted to investigate him for serious crimes including treason.

V.AbuAwwad--SF-PST