Anti-government protests continue in Panama, Central America, over a bill that would allow foreign companies to develop mines for up to 40 years.
The atmosphere is intensifying, with two people killed in the shooting while the road occupation and street marching have continued for several days.
On the 8th (local time), two people were shot and killed during an anti-government protest against the mining development contract approval law in Chame, Este, about 80km from the capital, Panama City, according to the Panamanian president, official social media and Panama police.
A driver of a vehicle is said to have shot protesters blocking the road.
Panama’s Ministry of Public Safety posted a video on social media, saying “Police have identified and arrested the suspect, an elderly person.”
“My condolences to the bereaved families of two citizens who lost their lives in Oeste on Tuesday,” said Panama’s President Laurentino Cortiso, saying, “Something that is impossible has happened in our society that lives in solidarity with each other.”
The incident came amid protests against government policy throughout Panama.
Earlier, the Panamanian government introduced a contract approval law to the National Assembly on 16th last month to renew the right to explore, mine, refine, sell and promote 130 km2 (13,000 ha) of copper mines (Ciblerepanama) in Donoso.
The bill was passed on the 20th of the same month after a parliamentary committee deliberation and plenary session, and was immediately signed by President Cortiso and published in the Official News on the same day. The bill took effect immediately after the announcement. It means that the legal process ended in five days.
The bill will give Minera Panama, which was already operating in the Donoso copper mine, with the authority to develop the mine for 20 years starting December 22, 2021. It also has the option to extend the contract for the next 20 years on the condition that you pay for a certain amount of revenue.
The motion of the Contract Approval Act was a follow-up to the existing law established in 1997 that was ruled unconstitutional in 2018 for procedural defects.
Minera Panama’s stake consists of 90% of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and 10% of the Korea Mining Corporation.
Locally, “the government and parliament made a decision too hastily without listening to residents,” and is protesting around the construction union and teachers’ association. Environmental groups are pouring oil on the angry public sentiment, saying, “It will only cause soil pollution in the surrounding area for a long time, far from helping to improve conditions for the poor.”
Protests, which were held in the form of street marches and road sit-in at the beginning of the protests at the end of last month, intensified by the government’s hard-line response, including the detention of 600 people.
There has been a heated response, such as blasting gunpowder or throwing stones around government facilities, and the police are not backing down, mobilizing tear gas.
As a result, temporary school closures and store closures are also taking place.
The Korean Embassy also gave guidance to our Korean residents and tourists to take care of their safety.
The president, who was surprised by the momentum of the protesters, said through social media, “We will confirm the people’s opinion on whether to repeal the relevant laws through a related referendum on December 17th,” and is struggling to appease people’s sentiment, such as signing a law on “prohibition of concessions for exploration, extraction, and transportation of new metal mining.”
Cobrepanama is Panama’s largest copper mine and the world’s 10th largest copper mine with a reserve of 2.43 billion tons.
The Korea Mining Corporation reported a net profit of $75 million in Kovrepanama in its 2021 financial settlement.
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
