Events heat up as submission day nears!
Riot police called out to clear road and arrest protesters as submission of new mining code to National Assembly nears. As soon as these hearings are completed there will be a couple of bones thrown to the activists with some cash and #277 will pass with Martinelli's majority in the National Assembly.
There are now strict laws on the books call for a two year jail sentence for blocking the highway. Some pictures on prensa.com National News. Once again this is all political, whipping up the local Indian tribe to embarrass the government. Looks like it will not work this time as they immediately sent in the riot police, instead of letting it get out of hand and then shooting 150 or so.
My guess is that #277 will be signed into law by the end of next week, and all the BS will be over in a month. PTQ/PDI
should be able to announce some contracts soon. Petaquilla's royalty payments will probably be set at 4%. PDI will, of course, have no royalty payments since they are in construction not gold.
ARTICLE:
Indigenous groups in the region Ngäbe Bugle call on President Ricardo Martinelli, to abandon the mining project.
Riot police forcibly evicted the indigenous protesters at the intersection of San Felix, which began a day of protests to the National Assembly does not come to discuss reforms to the Mining Code.
SPECIAL TO THE PRESS / Teófilo González1501949
TEÓFILO A. GONZÁLEZ
Remedios, Chiriqui Í
nacionales@prensa.com
While groups opposed to mining development in the region closed yesterday Ngäbe Bugle-American Highway at the intersection of San Felix, the mayors, who last year formed the Association of Municipalities of East Chiricano agreed to meet to discuss this issue.
After being evicted by riot forces of the National Police at 3:30 pm, the leader Alberto Montezuma said most of the population are Bugle Ngäbe opposed to mining development in the region.
The mayor of Remedios, Dayana Valerín, said amendments to the Code of Mineral Resources of the Government proposals are detrimental to the national sovereignty because it would allow other States to exploit the mineral resources.
"The open pit at Cerro Colorado could represent not only the pollution of major rivers of eastern Chiriqui, but will affect the fauna and flora of the entire region," said Valerín.
A few days ago, the organizations that comprise the Partnership for Environmental Development Highlands (Adata) reiterated their reluctance to change the code and the exploitation of the Cerro Colorado copper deposit.
"We reject outright the open pit mining of any deposit cash, by the effects of this activity in the surrounding communities and the environment," said Damaris Sanchez, who warned that Boquete is located 60 kilometers from Cerro Colorado.
The Project Coordinator of the Foundation for Integral Development, Community and Ecosystem Conservation in Panama (FUNDICCEP) warned that there are no methods or technologies to ensure that open pit mining does not contaminate the environment.
"We call on the president, Ricardo Martinelli, to walk in the shoes of the people, as promised in his election campaign, and instead of promoting mining in the region Ngäbe Bugle promote food self-sustainability in this region, "said Sanchez.
Sanchez reported that of the 198 concessions granted by the State for the exploitation of metallic minerals, one is in Renaissance Piedra Candela, near La Amistad International Park and another between the communities of Volcan and Cerro Punta.
It is 300 thousand hectares concession for gold mining in the midst of a highly productive area and near the hot springs of Volcan Sanchez said.
