Global Information2023 Panamanian protests information
| 2023 Panamanian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Protesters demonstrating in the Cinta Costera of Panama City on 5 November 2023 | |||
| Date | 20 October 2023 – 2 December 2023 (1 month, 1 week and 6 days) | ||
| Location | Panama | ||
| Caused by | Renovation of the mining contract of Cobre Panamá, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, placed in a protected area of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor | ||
| Goals |
| ||
| Methods | Unconstitutionality lawsuits, labor strike, protests, demonstrations, civil resistance and online activism | ||
| Resulted in |
| ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
| Lead figures | |||
Non-centralized leadership Laurentino Cortizo, president of Panama
Jaime Vargas, First Quantum Minerals leadership and related prominent figures
| |||
| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | 4 protesters, including two fatally shot during a road closure[3] | ||
| Injuries | 40 policemen and numerous protesters, including a photojournalist[4] | ||
| Arrested | Hundreds of protesters, including some union leaders[5] | ||
A series of protests began in Panama on 20 October 2023 following the immediate passing of a 20-to-40-year mining contract between the government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals,[6] the operator of Cobre Panamá, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, placed 20 minutes away from the western coast of Colon Province and within a protected area of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.[7]
Demonstrations started in Panama City shortly after Laurentino Cortizo, the president of Panama, signed into law the mining contract approved by the National Assembly in a 42–5 vote,[8] in less than 12 hours.[9] The protests and road closures expanded nationwide as soon as the public learned of the undisclosed details of the negotiation and approval process of the mining contract.[10] Demonstration hotspots included Panama City, Colón, La Chorrera, Penonomé, Santiago and David, with massive demonstrations for many days,[11] and multiple road closures throughout the Pan-American Highway and minor roads.[12]
President Laurentino Cortizo and his administration appeared multiple times on national media discussing protests and the economic impact of the road closures,[13] justifying their support of the mining contract, without significant progress being made in reducing demonstrations. Eventually, the president proposed a national referendum on whether to preserve the mining contract,[14] which was initially approved by the National Assembly even though it faced strong opposition of the public and the Electoral Tribunal (the electoral commission of the country),[15] but was later dismissed due to numerous concerns.[16] An initiative of repelling the mining contract with a new law was also initially approved by the National Assembly,[17][18] but it was dismissed by consensus as well, as numerous lawyers suggested that the unconstitutionality would be the most appropriate way to shut down Cobre Panamá and ensuring better defense in an eventual international arbitration process.[19]
Following weeks of protests, the National Assembly approved a bill suspending new mining concessions in Panamanian territory on 3 November 2023, which was immediately signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo.[20] Meanwhile, First Quantum Minerals was forced to reduce their operations in Cobre Panamá due to the road and sea blockades near the mine and the Punta Rincón port, their exporting area, by fishermen of the Donoso District.[21][22]
On 28 November 2023, the Supreme Court of Justice unanimously ruled the mining contract as unconstitutional, indicating that it infringed numerous articles of the Constitution.[23][24] The Supreme Court ruling was widely supported by the people, and celebrations erupted around the country.[25][26] On the same day, President Cortizo told the public that his administration will ensure the safe and orderly closure of the mine, in compliance with the ruling.[27] Federico Alfaro, minister of Commerce and Industries and a vocal supporter of the mining contract, resigned from office on 30 November 2023 amid increasing calls from the public following his involvement in the controversy.[28][29]
Four people died in the protests: two in traffic incidents while attempting to close roads, while the remaining two (a teacher and another's husband) were fatally shot in a road closure in Chame District by an elderly man with Panamanian and American citizenship.[30][31][32]
- ^ "Royo, Aristides - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Roux, Romulo - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Oppmann, Patrick (2023-11-09). "Two demonstrators killed amid anti-mining protests in Panama". CNN. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Journalists denounce violence during protests in Panama". LatAm Journalism Review by the Knight Center. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Salcedo, Andrea (2023-11-09). "Why ordinarily quiet Panama has erupted in deadly protests". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Guevara, Cristina (2023-12-18). "Panama's Mining Future Is at a Tipping Point". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama's Massive Environmental Awakening". NACLA. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Reporte de la sesión ordinaria - Votación: Tercer Debate al Proyecto de Ley No. 1100". Reportes de transparencia de la Asamblea Nacional de Panamá. 2023-10-20.
- ^ Moreno, Elida (2023-10-20). "Panama's president gives final approval to major copper mine contract". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Divya Rajagopal, Valentine Hilaire (2023-11-28). "Why might Panama cancel a copper mine contract?". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ S, María Mónica Monsalve (2023-10-27). "Mass protests in Panama to reject new concession for largest copper mine in Central America". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Anti-mining protesters in Panama say road blockades will be suspended for 12 hours on Monday". AP News. 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama president pushes back against Canadian copper mine protests". France 24. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama's leader calls for referendum on mining concession, seeking to calm protests over the deal". AP News. 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama Congress Committee Votes in Favor of Mine Referendum". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Shaw, Alfie (2023-10-31). "Panama referendum on copper mining will not go ahead". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama Congress Backs Repealing First Quantum Mine Contract". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama's Assembly looks to revoke contract for Canadian mining company after public outcry". AP News. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "¿Derogación o Inconstitucionalidad? Pelea de opiniones jurídicas | Foco Panamá" (in Spanish). 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ "Panama president signs into law a moratorium on new mining concessions. A Canadian mine is untouched". AP News. 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama Copper Mine Is Winding Down Amid Blockade, Union Says". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Shaw, Alfie (2023-10-30). "Panama protestors break into copper mine port". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Panama's Supreme Court declares 20-year contract for Canadian copper mine unconstitutional". AP News. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ EFE, Agencia (2023-11-23). "Five keys to why a large mine in Panama faces a ruling that could spell its end". EFE Noticias. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Taylor, Luke (2023-11-28). "'Historic moment': Panama activists celebrate ruling against copper mine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Fox, Michael. "Panama celebrates court order to cancel mine even as business is hit". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "UPDATE 8-Panama president directs First Quantum to shut copper mine after court ruling". Yahoo Finance. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Moreno, Elida (2023-12-01). "Panama trade minister resigns after mining contract backlash". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ "Panama trade minister resigns after mining contract backlash". MINING.COM. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Oppmann, Patrick (2023-11-09). "Two demonstrators killed amid anti-mining protests in Panama". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ Dorgan, Michael (2023-11-09). "American lawyer arrested for fatally shooting two environmental protesters at Panama road blockade: police". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ Millward, David (2023-11-08). "Chilling moment gunman kills two protesters blocking road in Panama". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-11-28.