In its most recent Amnesty Urgent Action letter, the TRU Students’ Union wrote to María Amelia Coronel Kinloch, Nicaragua’s Minister of the Interior, urging her to reveal the fate and whereabouts of six disappeared relatives of Indigenous Miskitu leader Brooklyn Rivera. The letter called for proof that all six are alive, guarantees of their safety, and their immediate release if they are being arbitrarily detained. It also urged a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into their disappearance and accountability for those responsible.
“Writing this letter is one way we can stand with families who are seeking answers about their loved ones,” said Ximena Maldonado, TRUSU LGBTQ+ Representative, “As students, we recognize the importance of being able to ask questions and demand accountability without fearing for our own safety.”
On May 31, 2026, Jorge Webster Rojas, Alda López Bryan, Jourbes Escobar López, Korny Valle Bushey, Florencia Sarmiento Alejandro, and Glenis Criesa Pantin Coleman disappeared after travelling to Managua to claim Brooklyn Rivera’s remains. Rivera, an Indigenous Miskitu leader and former member of Nicaragua’s National Assembly, had been arbitrarily detained since September 2023. For much of his detention, authorities refused to disclose his whereabouts and denied him regular access to his family and a lawyer of his choice. The government announced his death in state custody on May 31, 2026. Efforts to locate his six relatives had been unsuccessful, and authorities had provided no official information about their fate, whereabouts, or legal status.
These disappearances took place amid a wider crackdown in Nicaragua. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have documented arbitrary detention, persecution of government critics, and attacks on Indigenous leaders and human rights defenders. Enforced disappearance places people outside the protection of the law and exposes them to a heightened risk of torture, other ill-treatment, and unlawful death. It also leaves families facing uncertainty about the safety of their loved ones.
“No family should have to face the uncertainty of not knowing where their loved ones are or whether they are safe,” said Maldonado. “These six relatives deserve protection, and their families deserve answers.”
TRUSU hopes that Minister Coronel Kinloch will act to reveal the fate and whereabouts of the six relatives, ensure their safety and release if arbitrarily detained, and hold those responsible for their disappearance accountable.
The Union awaits a response from the Minister on this urgent matter.
For more Information
The Amnesty Urgent Actions Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.