After submitting numerous posts centered on the fun aspects of Panamanian culture, I am using this week to discuss a current social event. The month of February was quite unstable for Panama. The country catapulted into a state of unease after President Ricardo Martinelli installed a mining reform law on 11 February 2011, entitled Law 8. Under this law, the western land used by the Ngäbe Buglé tribe will be open to foreign miners[1]. Although there are benefits to this new law, which involve the growth of thousands of job opportunities and Panamanian economic expansion, many Panamanians are against the reform, arguing it would harm the natural environment and Ngäbe Buglé culture. Demonstrators, including, Ngäbe Buglé people, students, and environmental groups, protested the law by blocking the Coastal Highway.[2]. Police reacted to these protests by spraying protestors with tear gas (1). Avarana, an anti-mining reform activist argued, “The hazards of mining go beyond the territorial and provincial boundaries, but the government cannot see beyond their pockets, and it gets more complicated because they've decided to incite one of the societies that has historically suffered manipulation and a lack of interest from politicians (2).” After weeks of protests, the Panama government agreed to meet with Ngäbe Buglé coordinators on 1 March 2011 to revise the mining code. After nine hours of dispute, President Ricardo Martinelli made the decision to repeal Law 8. The president officially announced the law’s repeal today, 3 March 2011 at 1:00 pm.[3]
[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12513084
[2] http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/03/03/panama-public-rejection-of-mining-code-reforms/
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