Panama City, 28 August (EFE). – More than a hundred people protested this Monday in Panama against the new contract with Minera Panama, the subsidiary of the Canadian First Quantum Minerals, which among other things operates the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America. There was a tense atmosphere and clashes with the police , which resulted in minor injuries.
The demonstration took place in front of the seat of the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), while the first of three debates approving the million dollar contract was taking place in the plenary hall in the presence of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Federico Alfaro, one of the most criticized figures.
Various trade unions, students and members of civil society protested in a tense atmosphere: a small group of demonstrators threw down the protective fences around the parliament building and threw paintballs at the police, who responded with gas. There were some minor injuries, as confirmed by EFE.
Some demonstrators reported on social networks that they had been injured by the actions of the police. No arrests were reported.
“I am concerned by the current situation where an unconstitutional mining contract is being debated and the nation is selling it. There are more than 4,000 hectares granted protected areas and the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor,” a young woman told EFE. Biology student Evelyn Matos, 22 years old.
“This is a tailor-made contract for transnational capital that includes Panamanian businessmen whose names have not been released. We oppose the sale of our land,” added Héctor Hurtado, one of the leaders, in statements to EFE. the powerful construction union Suntracs.
Unlike last week’s protest, which included supporters and opponents of the treaty and was peaceful, this Monday saw only the presence of civil society opposed to the mine and greater tensions.
Some candidates for a free nomination in next May’s general election, “influencers” recognized in the country and environmentalists were present at the protest this Monday with banners with messages like “Mining Contract – Poison”, “Our Land is Not Your Mining” etc “No to the death contract”.
Last March, after more than a year of tough negotiations, the government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals reached a final agreement on a 20-year renewable concession agreement for the exploitation of the copper mine, which stipulates a minimum annual income of $375 million, including US -dollars to the treasury and extensive government oversight powers over operations.
The Cobre Panamá mine began exporting copper ore in June 2019 and has an investment of approximately $10,000 million, according to government and company figures, in addition to 5,279 direct workers and nearly 40,000 indirect workers.
Panama’s Environmental Advocacy Center (CIAM) appealed constitutional guarantees in the Supreme Court (CSJ) on July 17 against the government’s approval of the contract with FQM.
CIAM is the organization that filed an unconstitutionality complaint in 2009 against the 1997 statutory treaty that upheld the concession for exploitation of the copper mine, ultimately ruling the CSJ in 2017 in favor of the environmentalists, forcing a new treaty to be negotiated.
Parliament’s Trade and Economy Commission declared this Monday “in permanent session to give participants space to participate in the first debate on the project” of contract law.