The Silence of Injustice: Nicaragua’s Culture of Disregard for Human Life

The latest report from the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua is a stark reminder that some governments in this hemisphere are more equal than others when it comes to human rights. At least eight deaths in custody since 2018 have been directly linked to the actions – or rather, the inactions – of the Nicaraguan government under co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.

In Nicaragua, dissent is a mortal sin. Since the government’s brutal crackdown on mass protests in 2018, any attempt at questioning its authority has been met with swift and merciless repression. The Miskito people, an indigenous group that has long been marginalized by the Sandinista regime, have borne the brunt of this repression. Brooklyn Rivera, a young leader from this community, was imprisoned for over two years without charge or trial before his untimely death in custody.

The official explanation for Rivera’s passing – complications arising from a pre-existing COVID-19 infection – has been thoroughly debunked by Physicians for Human Rights. The report highlights the inconsistencies in the government’s account of Rivera’s final days, including the suspicious timing and medical coherence of the illness. What is perhaps most disturbing about this case is not just the death itself, but the deliberate attempt to conceal the truth from Rivera’s family and community.

The Miskito people value the dignity of the deceased above all else in their rich cultural tradition. Yet, in their hour of need, the Nicaraguan government denied them even a basic human right: an independent investigation or autopsy. This is not just bureaucratic inefficiency; it speaks to a deeper culture of disregard for human life and the rights of marginalized communities.

Rivera’s case is not isolated. The report documents at least 161 disappearances since 2018, with 29 individuals still missing and their whereabouts unknown. It also highlights the failure of care in the deaths of Humberto Ortega, Hugo Torres, and Carlos Cárdenas Zepeda – all high-profile victims who should have commanded greater attention from the government.

The UN report’s findings are a stark indictment of the Nicaraguan government’s disregard for human rights and democratic governance. The co-Presidents’ actions (or lack thereof) demonstrate a clear contempt for principles of accountability, transparency, and due process that underpin any functioning democracy.

This culture of impunity has significant implications for Nicaragua. Without international pressure and scrutiny, even egregious human rights abuses can continue unchecked. The fact that Ortega’s government has weathered such criticism speaks volumes about the diplomatic and economic leverage wielded by countries like China and Russia.

The crisis in Nicaragua is part of a broader pattern of disregard for human rights in Latin America. From Venezuela to Honduras, the region is home to some of the most egregious human rights abuses on the planet. To stop this culture of impunity, sustained international pressure and attention are required – not just from governments but also from civil society organizations and concerned citizens around the world.

As the Nicaraguan government continues to ignore the UN report’s damning findings, we must ask ourselves: what does this mean for our role as global citizens? Do we stand idly by while governments continue to disregard human rights with impunity? Or do we take a stand – and demand accountability from those who would seek to silence us all?