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Weekly Report - 26 February 2015 (WR-15-08)

PANAMA: Varela marks another difference with his predecessor

Earlier this month the Partido Panameñista (PPA) government led by President Juan Carlos Varela announced the suspension of the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam project for failing to meet requirements under its environmental impact assessment (EIA). Located in the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca (an indigenous political administrative region), the dam was 95% complete and had been a major bone of contention between indigenous groups and Varela’s predecessor, Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), whose insistence on pursuing unpopular mining and hydroelectric projects had resulted in clashes – at times bloody – particularly during the first part of his mandate. With local indigenous groups calling for the dam’s complete cancellation, the latest move nonetheless suggests that the current administration, which took office in July 2014, is likely to pursue a less confrontational course than its predecessor.

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