Brooklyn Rivera case: US calls for release of jailed Miskito leader in Nicaragua

The United States called for the release of imprisoned Nicaraguan Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera on Friday. The appeal came after the Nicaraguan government released hospital images of Rivera. The photos showed Rivera in critical condition. Rivera has been held since September 29, 2023, during a long crackdown on dissent.

Representative image

On Wednesday, the government led by co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo issued a health update. Officials said Rivera was in a delicate condition. The report said Rivera was on a mechanical ventilator. It also cited multiple organ failure. The images showed Rivera very thin and connected to tubes.

Brooklyn Rivera release call and US statement

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted on X on Friday. "This repression, violence and inhumanity is abhorrent,\" the post said. \"We reiterate our call for his and all political prisoners unconditional release NOW.\" The US call followed concern over deaths in custody in recent years.

Rivera’s family has said the imprisonment was political. The family said the government has not filed formal charges. Rivera leads the Miskito people, who have opposed the Sandinista government for decades. Rivera has been a visible figure in that dispute for years.

Brooklyn Rivera case and Indigenous groups response

On Thursday, a coalition of Nicaraguan Indigenous groups criticised Rivera’s detention. The coalition said the government acted arbitrarily. The coalition also rejected claims that Rivera was already unwell when detained. \"We know that who is responsible for this very grave situation that he is in, for the violations of human rights, is the Sandinista Ortega-Murillo regime,\" the statement said.

At least 47 people are imprisoned in Nicaragua for political reasons, case trackers said. The group is known as the Mechanism for Recognition of Political Prisoners. The wider campaign grew after a 2018 uprising. A government crackdown followed and killed hundreds, according to reports.

Brooklyn Rivera and Nicaragua political crackdown since 2018

The 2018 unrest began over social-security reforms. The protests later grew into demands for Ortega’s resignation. Ortega has ruled for nearly two decades. Ortega changed the constitution to allow repeated re-election. Repression increased before the 2021 presidential elections, after opponents were jailed.

The US does not recognise Ortega’s presidency. More than 200 political prisoners were released and sent to the US in 2023. Many described isolation and physical and psychological torture. Several reported chronic health problems after detention. Many now live in a precarious immigration limbo under the Trump administration.

Another 135 political prisoners were freed and sent to Guatemala in 2024. Nicaragua’s government said in January it would release some prisoners. That followed pressure after a US military operation targeting Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro. After the promise, the government provided limited transparency on actions taken.

Brooklyn Rivera and Miskito region tensions with Ortega government

Manuel Prado, vice president of the Miskitu American Organisation, described long-running tensions. Prado said the Miskito population has been difficult for the Ortega regime. Rivera earlier resisted the Sandinista government in the late 1970s and 1980s. Rivera joined the US-backed Contra movement and backed regional autonomy.

Prado said Rivera helped establish the northern coastal area as an autonomous region. The region has resources including gold and silver. Prado said the area matters to the Ortega-Murillo administration’s investment plans. Prado linked this to interest from China. Prado urged Rivera’s release and warned about Rivera’s condition.

Prado said, \"We do feel like Ortega will allow him to die,\" while calling for Rivera to be freed. Rivera remains hospitalised after months in custody. The US and Indigenous groups have renewed demands for his release. The government has shared limited details beyond its health report and photos.

With inputs from PTI