Arrr! Them native folk in Nicaragua be facin' mighty dangers 'n violence from them thievin' scoundrels.
2023-08-10
Arr, mateys! Them native folk in the land o' Nicaragua's northeast be facin' a heap o' troubles! Armed scallywags be sailin' in, takin' 'em by force, makin' 'em walk the plank, all to cause mayhem 'n terror!
Indigenous communities in northeast Nicaragua are facing increasing pressure from armed assailants who are using violence and intimidation to force them off their land. These attackers, known locally as "colonos," are occupying the land to engage in commercial agriculture, ranching, and timber harvesting. The Mayangna and Miskito people, who live in the region along the Caribbean Sea, primarily in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, are particularly affected by these invasions.Community leaders accuse President Daniel Ortega's government of protecting the settlers and allowing them to violently attack indigenous communities. The settlers have burned homes, killed people, and destroyed land in an effort to remove the indigenous people from their territories. In some cases, residents have had to flee for their lives when the settlers arrive.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ordered the Nicaraguan government to protect the Mayangna communities in Wilu and Musawas. The court's action follows a previous call by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the government to protect these communities. Between January and July, 10 Mayangna, including nine forest rangers, were killed by settlers.
The court has ordered Nicaragua to implement security measures that would allow the displaced people to return and protect their lives and well-being. However, the government has not responded to the court's order, despite accepting the court's jurisdiction over human rights issues in 1991.
Lawyers and advocates for indigenous peoples argue that these attacks have been happening for nearly a decade, with the police and military failing to intervene. They hope that the court's action will shed light on the tragic situation of land dispossession and genocide occurring in indigenous territories, which have historically been marginalized and forgotten by Nicaraguan administrations.