Back

Weekly Report - 16 February 2012 (WR-12-07)

PANAMA: Martinelli breaks a promise

Indigenous protests against mining and hydroelectric projects are fast becoming an annual fixture of President Ricardo Martinelli’s mandate. Less than a year since, under popular pressure, the pro-business President was forced to repeal a contentious reform to the 1963 mining law which would have opened the sector up to foreign government investment, a recently submitted bill to congress which apparently ignored the reversal, once again drove indigenous groups back onto the streets. After equally familiar scenes of violence, accusations of excessive police force and international concern, Martinelli reached a truce with the protesters and the contentious bill has been resubmitted to congress. His hitherto failure to uphold previous agreements and intransigence over hydroelectric projects suggest civil society and indigenous groups are likely to remain on the alert.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 1056 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

Back

Articles in this issue