Human rights concerns rise in Nicaragua and Panama

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has requested the expansion of provisional measures for Bayardo Arce Castaño, a former Sandinista commander and presidential advisor in Nicaragua. The Commission informed the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that Arce remains in a situation of “extreme gravity and urgency,” facing irreparable harm while detained at the Jorge Navarro prison. Reports indicate he suffers from severe restrictions on communication, visits, and insufficient access to food, potable water, and specialized medical care for chronic health issues.

The request also includes Efrén Antonio Vilchez López and Alain Piedra Hernández, currently held at the same facility. The IACHR noted that the Nicaraguan state has not provided evidence of effective measures to address the risks facing Arce or his family.

In Panama, former President Ricardo Martinelli, speaking from asylum in Colombia, has denounced the transfer of Alex Lee, Javier Lynch, and Orlando Salazar to Coiba Island. Martinelli characterized the move as political persecution and a violation of due process, alleging the individuals were sent to the island without formal accusations or trials. He called for their immediate transfer to a mainland penitentiary to restore legal guarantees.