Torturing Environment in the Documentation of Human Rights Violations in the Case of the Indigenous Rama-Kreol Communities in Nicaragua

ABSTRACT∞ In transitional justice processes, retrospective documentation of complex repressive environments poses significant challenges. Documenting state repression in fragile environments is challenging, especially when relying on local sources and information from vulnerable populations. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to document the Nicaraguan State’s actions against Rama-Kriol communities aimed at coercing them into accepting the construction of an Inter Oceanic Canal in their ancestral territories. The article introduces the concept of torturing environments to shed light on the multifaceted nature of low-intensity warfare against indigenous communities. Six axes of coercive actions emerged from the analysis: (a) threats to community survival, (b) assaults on physical integrity, (c) measures hindering individual and community control over their life, (d) attacks on individual and collective identity and (e) erosion of community cohesion, culture and identity. The concept of torturing environments offers unique insights into the multifaceted strategies employed in low-intensity conflicts against indigenous populations. Its application is valuable in documenting intricate contexts, especially where information is fragile and volatile, thereby contributing significantly to the search for truth and historical clarification in transitional justice efforts.