Committee of Concerned Scientists

An international non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

An independent non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

Four students detained by Nicaraguan regime following closure of Jesuit Central American University (UCA)

Joseling Mayela Campos Silva and Josseth Miranda are two of four student activists who were kidnapped and detained by the Nicaraguan authorities this week. These arrests closely followed the forced closure of the Jesuit Central American University (UCA) after it was labeled by the government as a terrorist organization.
https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2023/08/23/el-regimen-de-nicaragua-detuvo-a-cuatro-dirigentes-estudiantiles-tras-el-cierre-de-la-universidad-centroamericana/

September 4, 2023

Kevin O’Reilly
Chargé d’Affaires
United States Embassy in Managua
Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur
Managua, Nicaragua 10000

Dear Mr. O’Reilly:

The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.

We are writing in regard to four students who are being detained by the Nicaraguan authorities: Joseling Mayela Campos Silva, Josseth Miranda, Adela Espinoza Tercero, and Gabriela Morales. These arrests seem to be directly connected to the recent closure of the Jesuit Central American University (UCA), one of the most prestigious institutions in Nicaragua, now considered a terrorist organization. The four students, known leaders at UCA, publicly spoke out against the closure of their university. One of the students is a mother of two minors.

The Committee is concerned by such retaliation against students who are merely defending their university. We write to urge you and anyone who can help to appeal to the Nicaraguan government to release these students, who appear to be innocent of any crime.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

CC:

Hugo Rodriguez
Ambassador to Nicaragua
Bureau of Consular Affairs
U.S. Department of State
600 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036 USA

Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken

Who We Are

Co-chairs

Joel L. Lebowitz, Rutgers University

Walter Reich, George Washington University

Eugene Chudnovsky, Lehman College

Alexander Greer, Brooklyn College

Vice-chairs

Biology – Max E. Gottesman, Columbia University

Chemistry – Zafra Lerman, MIMSAD Inc.

Computer Science – Rachelle Heller, The George Washington University

Engineering – Philip Sarachik, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering

Computer Science – Jack Minker, University of Maryland, College Park

Mathematics – Simon Levin, Princeton University

Honorary Board Members

Nancy Andrews, Duke University

Myles Axton, Chief Editor, Genetics and Genomics Next

David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology*

Alan J. Bard, University of Texas

David Gross, University of California, Santa Barbara*

James Langer, University of California, Santa Barbara

Peter Lax, New York University

Giorgio Parisi, Roma I University La Sapienza

John C. Polanyi, University of Toronto*

Stuart Rice, University of Chicago

Sir Richard J. Roberts, New England Biolabs*

Maxine Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Alfred I. Tauber, Boston University

Myrna Weissman, Columbia University

Former Honorary Board Members

Jacob Bigeleisen (deceased), SUNY, Stony Brook

Raoul Bott (deseased) Harvard University

Owen Chamberlain (deceased), University of California, Berkeley

Stanley Deser (deceased), Brandeis University

Edward Gerjuoy (deceased), University of Pittsburgh

Pierre Hohenberg (deceased), New York University

Walter Kohn (deceased), University of California, Santa Barbara*

Louis Nirenberg (deceased), New York University

Marshall Nirenberg (deceased), National Institutes of Health*

Myriam Sarachick (deceased), City College of New York

Harold Scheraga (deceased), Cornell University

Sylvan Schweber (deceased), Brandeis University

Steven Weinberg (deceased), University of Texas, Austin*

Rosalyn S. Yalow (deceased), Mount Sinai School of Medicine*

* Nobel laureate

CONTACT

Edyta Greer
Executive Director
P.O. Box 112
New York, NY 10159
emgreer@concernedscientists.org