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24 February 2011 | News | Extractive industries
Indefinitely
Indigenous people strengthen mobilizations against mining code reform in Panama
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Indigenous people and peasants of Panama are mobilizing and will continue protesting in order to have Ricardo Martinelli’s administration repeal a law passed on February 8th to modify the Mining Code.
On February 24th there will be protests throughout the country that will continue during the weekend. Last Sunday, around 2,000 people participated in the march for the Right to a Dignified Life, in Panama city.
The mobilizations started early February, including a blockade of the Inter American Road in Chiriqui province, carried out by the Ngabe Bugle indigenous people.
This community opposes a copper exploitation project in Cerro Colorado, a place considered sacred by the local population.
Environmentalist organizations, trade unions, and student groups from Panama warn that the changes in the Mining Code will expand open-pit mining and they demand a moratorium to this activity.
They also fear that the participation of foreign countries through corporations will increase, and demand the respect to the right to consult indigenous communities about these projects, something that is established in ILO Convention 169.
The organizations demand the promotion of alternatives for economic development of the country, such as ecological tourism and the strengthening of public institutions in charge of environmental controls, according to Radio Temblor.
