Environmental defenders suffered during Panama’s mining protests

Last year, Panama witnessed severe repercussions for protesters opposing a copper mine, including deaths and injuries.

Maxwell Radwin reports for Mongabay.

In short:

• Protests erupted over a contract renewal for Cobre Panamá, leading to nationwide unrest and police brutality.
• The Supreme Court eventually declared the mining contract unconstitutional, though not before significant harm to protesters.
• Environmental advocates fear further violence if mining negotiations resume under the new presidency starting July 1.

Key quote:

“The Panamanian people have repeatedly and firmly said that they do not approve of metallic mining because of the negative impacts on biodiversity and for the quality of water for hundreds of communities.”

— Damaris Sanchez Samudio, director of FUNDICCEP

Why this matters:

The Panama copper mine incident serves as a poignant reminder of the often overlooked human costs of environmental degradation. Critics of the mine emphasize the immediate environmental degradation, such as deforestation and water pollution, as well as the long-term health implications for local populations who rely on these natural resources for their livelihoods and well-being.

This raises critical questions about the adequacy of environmental and social governance in large-scale economic projects, and whether enough is being done to protect the interests and rights of local communities against the backdrop of global demand for resources like copper.