Protests and mobilizations led by environmentalists have been taking place in Panama since the beginning of this week to rally those opposed to a mining contract between the state and Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals. The agreement would mean millions of dollars in profits for the country, but also environmental damage.
First change: October 29, 2023 – 8:03 p.m
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Thousands of Panamanian citizens have taken to the streets in recent days against a mining deal that the environmentalists who called for the marches said would impact Panama’s biodiversity and would involve the transfer of land to a company in the mining sector. Canadian.
According to the organizers of the mobilizations, almost 50,000 people walked through the streets and public squares of Panama with Panamanian flags, shouting slogans such as: “We are patriots, we are not selling our homeland.” They say they did this with the aim of breaking the gap between to cancel the contract signed between the state and the company Minera Panamá, a subsidiary of the mining company First Quantum Minerals. The country’s president, Laurentino Cortizo, ratified the agreement.
The protests began last Monday but have continued every day of the week. Although peaceful most days, they sometimes ended in clashes with local police. They also led to roadblocks and class cancellations across the country earlier this week.
Demonstrators protest against the government contract with Canadian mining company First Quantum – and its subsidiary Minera Panamá – in Panama City, Panama, on October 26, 2023. In 2021, Panama’s Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that declared unconstitutional the original mining concession rights granted to subsidiary Minera Panamá until 2037, but negotiations between the government and First Quantum resulted in a new contract under which the company will pay the government ten times more than before and will be allowed to operate in Panama for 20 years, renewable for another two decades. AFP – LUIS ACOSTA
One of the demonstrators, Camila Aybar Monteagudo, encouraged the participants with her speech: “We young people (…) are taking over the street and we will not leave until a mining contract is concluded that has not been consulted with the citizenry.” is complete abusive, and with which the Panamanian government authorized the destruction of 40 years of our country in just three days.
Aybar noted that the contract “authorizes that a mining company can have the largest copper mine in all of Central America in a non-mining country and in a protected area known as the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which contains the richest biodiversity of 8 countries.” About that Furthermore, the “Panama is worth more without mining” movement – made up of almost 100 environmental organizations – will not stop until the agreement is finally abolished.
This Friday, Panama’s Supreme Court agreed to consider a second challenge to the agreement. For its part, the Canadian mining company, protagonist of the controversial contract, assured on Saturday October 28 that it was deeply concerned about the entry of unauthorized vessels into a port where it operates in Panama.
Nobody gives in
The government of Laurentino Cortizo and First Quantum Minerals agreed in March this year to an expanded 20-year concession agreement for the Cobre Panamá mine, which includes a minimum income of $375 million for the physicist and government supervision of the operation. The huge mine represents almost 5% of Panama’s economy.
FILE: View of Canadian First Quantum Minerals’ Cobre Panama mine in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Portal – STRINGER
After a public consultation between March and April this year, the government approved the agreement in June 2023. It was then submitted to the country’s parliament for approval and sent back for some changes. With the changes made, Parliament ratified it as Law 406 on October 20.
Despite the outbreak of massive demonstrations, the Panamanian government continues to defend the contract, so much so that Panamanian Economy Minister Héctor Alexander confirmed his support for the mining agreement last Friday.
“Panama is a mining country,” Alexander said in an interview with the Portal news agency. The official argued that without the mine, the country’s economy would see minimal growth compared to government estimates of 6%.
However, on the same day, the government also announced that the country would reject any new mining projects. According to Cortizo, this measure applies to those who are currently applying for a permit and also to those who may be presented in the future.
I am informing the country that I have subpoenaed today #CabinetCouncilwhich adopted the Cabinet Resolution authorizing the Minister of Commerce to declare, by executive decree, the ban on the granting of new metallic mineral concessions throughout the country.
– Nito Cortizo (@NitoCortizo) October 27, 2023
With EFE and Portal