February 7, 2012.
Indigenous peoples from across Panama are taking to the streets to protest what they see as growing infringements on their lands and forests. On February 7, indigenous leaders from the Ngäbe people in Western Panama reached an agreement with the government, calling off protests that had shut down the Pan American Highway for almost a week. The agreement has opened the way for dialogue between the government and Ngäbe leaders regarding mining and hydroelectric activities on their land; meanwhile, other indigenous peoples, equally frustrated with what they see as continued violations of their land and resource rights, and a lack of effective government action.
The Ngäbe Buglé in Western Panama shut down the Pan American Highway for several days last week, protesting plans for mining and dams on their lands. On Sunday, a young Ngäbe activist was shot dead during an eviction by the National Police. According to local news reports, thirty nine people have been jailed, and another 55 are missing. Indigenous communities from Eastern Panama, frustrated with repeated invasions of their lands, decided to join them through protests in Panama City yesterday. Depending on the outcome of negotiations with the government, it is possible that protests will spread in the coming days.
In a declaration signed yesterday (http://www.prensa.com/sites/default/files/comunicado.pdf), the leaders of the four main indigenous organizations from Eastern Panama called on the government of President Martinelli to respond to growing concerns about their lands and resources. They accuse his administration of disregarding their constitutional rights, as well as those enshrined in international law. They cite continued invasions of their lands by ranchers and loggers, and lack of government action to curtail these activities, or to protect their lands as called for by Panamanian law. “The Emberá and Wounaan peoples of Panama declare ourselves to be in civil disobedience; we call on the government to stop the invasion of our lands, and unite ourselves with the just struggle of the Ngäbe Buglé people”.
The indigenous leaders further call on the government to create a high-level commission to deal with the situation; for the dismissal of the National Police Chief; for an independent investigation of human rights violations against indigenous peoples; and for jailed indigenous leaders and activists to be freed.
The situation in Panama led the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to issue a press release yesterday, calling for dialogue between indigenous leaders and the government. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights also issued a press release, calling on the government to respect international human rights norms, including the right of indigenous peoples to be consulted about the decisions that affect them.
Suzanne Pelletier, Executive Director of the Rainforest Foundation, which works with indigenous communities in Eastern Panama, stated “We hope that the situation will be resolved through dialogue, and that the government will uphold its promise to recognize collective lands in Panama.” Situations like these underscore the need for indigenous land and resource rights to be respected and upheld, the world over.
More information:
Rainforest Foundation US: http://www.rainforestfoundation.org/indigenous-peoples-panama-protest-their-lands-and-resources
Press release issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://unsr.jamesanaya.org/notes/special-rapporteur-calls-for-dialogue-in-climate-of-increasing-social-tension-in-panama
Press release issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2012/013.asp