‘Historic moment’: Panama activists celebrate ruling against copper mine
Environmental activists in Panama have taken to the streets to celebrate a ruling by the country’s supreme court which could shut down a contentious copper mining project and bring an end to weeks of mass protests which have paralysed the country’s major roads and ports.
“Today Panama celebrates a historic moment that we have been waiting for for years. At first there were only a few of us but now we all understand that Panama’s gold is green,” said Serena Vamvas, who has been protesting the mine since 2021 with Foundation My Sea (Fundación Mi Mar).
Flag-waving activists filled square in front of the courthouse in Panama City tocelebrate a ruling they said would prevent 20 years of environ
mental damage to Panama’s jungles from the giant copper pit.
Lilian Guevara at the Environmental Advocacy Centre (CIAM) said the protests and the result served as a referendum on the environmental future of Panama.
“The people of Panama have decided ‘We don’t want to be a mining country,’” said Guevara by telephone, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of cheering. “Instead of sacrificing the most precious and valuable thing we have for a few million in royalties, let’s instead develop a model of sustainable development.”
The protests were sparked by concerns that the mining project would cause deforestation and pilfer water supplies, but the movement quickly snowballed into a broader expression of political unrest.
The swift dealmaking between President Laurentino Cortizo’s government and the Canadian mining giant First Quantum prompted allegations of corruption as labour unions and Indigenous groups also took to the streets.
Protesters blocked the Panamerican highway and used small boats to blockade the mine’s port, forcing it to reduce its output.
Cortizo’s attempt to temper the growing anger with a referendum on the mine’s future failed to calm the turmoil, leaving the matter to the constitutional court.
If the government shuts down the project it will be a major hit to the Central American country’s economy just as it is losing revenues from the Panama Canal where traffic is restricted by drought, said mining expert Paul Harris. “The minimum royalties guaranteed for the government are $375m a year,” he said.
The Cobre Panama mine cost $6.8bn to construct and its operations accounts for aboutr 3% of Panama’s GDP and 75% of its exports.
Protesters will not abandon the cause as the mining giant could appeal the decision, but Guevara said she hoped the movement could leave the streets and move to a new phase of civic participation to avoid unnecessary deaths.
“I hope the decision ends the project but also the state of uncertainty which has kept people on the streets fighting and suffering,” Guevara said.