Be sure and visit my Travel Blog for all the ‘normal news’ in Panama. The ‘Visit Our Travel Blog’ link is on your right.
Protesting Ngöbe-Buglé Indians Remain On Alert
In the province of Chiriqui, dozens of Indians remain on alert in more than seven fronts of struggle along the Pan American Highway. The Indians warned they will continue their vigil and remain on high alert in support of the Chieftain Silvia Carrera and the leaders of the Coordinator Against Mining and Hydropower. (TVN)
Don Winner (Panama Guide) explains: Yeah, their standing around, waiting for the word to block the road again. If the talks don't go as they want in the National Assembly, or if a deal that's satisfactory to everyone can't be reached, then they'll pull the trigger again.……..
But – It Gets Even Better (Worse?)
Changuinola, Bocas del Toro. - The Coordinator of the Movement for the Defense of the Territory of the Ecosystem of the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Feliciano Santo, announced that in the coming hours this group will undertake forceful actions including the closure of the Pan-American highway. Santo said they have taken this decision because Celio Guerra, the President of the Traditional General Congress, has not been allowed to participate in the negotiations and talks currently taking place in Panama City.
He was referring to the meetings of the special commission that is trying to reach a consensus over Article 5 of Bill 415 which establishes the mining regime for the Ngäbe-Bugle region, which has been meeting for the past four days. These protests and street closures will take place in the district of San Felix in the province of Chiriqui, and in Sixaola in the province of Bocas del Toro, said the leader. He said these protests will be carried out by different groups of indigenous Ngäbe-Bugle Indians from different organizations from non traditional authorities - meaning - those who do not recognize the authority of the Congress that was elected in a vote organized by the Electoral Tribunal in 2010. (Prensa)
Don Winner explains: Yeah, because this mining and hydro power crap wasn't complicated enough already. Back in 2010 the Electoral Tribunal tried to organize an election in the Ngäbe-Bugle region. The vast majority of those who were eligible to vote (50,000+) decided to boycott the election. The current Chieftain who is legally recognized by the government because she won that election with 27% of the vote - is not recognized by the vast majority of the rest of the population of the Ngäbe-Bugle people. So, there's a good chance that whatever agreement she signs will not be recognized by the people in the Ngäbe-Bugle region, either.
Anyway, the bottom line does not change. There are now two possibilities that the Pan-American highway will be shut down again in the coming days.
- One threat from the Chieftain's people - if she sticks her head out of the door and says the wrong thing, or if an agreement can't be reached, then her people will close the road again in protest.
- And the second threat from Celio Guerra's people, who apparently has the backing of more of the indigenous Ngäbe-Bugle people than the Chieftain who is doing the negotiating.
Does it sound like the whole thing is resolved to you? You also need to realize that this debate (battle, struggle?) has been going on for years. So stay tuned. The ‘fat lady’ has not even showed up yet, much less sung.
Till Next Time. Pura Vida