Jump to content

2023 Panamanian protests

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2023 Panamanian protests
Protesters demonstrating in the Cinta Costera of Panama City on 5 November 2023
Date20 October 2023 – 2 December 2023
(1 month, 1 week and 6 days)
Location
Panama
Caused byRenovation of the mining contract of Cobre Panamá, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America,[1] placed in a protected area of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
Goals
MethodsUnconstitutionality lawsuits, labor strike, protests, demonstrations, civil resistance and online activism
Resulted in
Parties

Protesters

  • Environmental activists
  • Anti-mining lawyers
  • Teacher unions
  • Labor unions
  • Indigenous groups
  • Other civil groups
Lead figures

Non-centralized leadership

Casualties
Death(s)4 protesters, including two fatally shot during a road closure[4]
Injuries40 policemen and numerous protesters, including a photojournalist[5]
ArrestedHundreds of protesters, including some union leaders[6]

A series of protests began in Panama on 20 October 2023 following the immediate passing of a 20-to-40-year mining contract between the government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals,[7] the operator of Cobre Panamá, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, placed 20 minutes away from the western coast of Colon Province and within a protected area of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.[8]

Demonstrations started in Panama City shortly after Laurentino Cortizo, the president of Panama, signed into law the mining contract approved by the National Assembly in a 43–5 vote,[9] in less than 12 hours.[10] The protests and road closures expanded nationwide as soon as the public learned of the undisclosed details of the negotiation and approval process of the mining contract.[11] Demonstration hotspots included Panama City, Colón, La Chorrera, Penonomé, Santiago and David, with massive demonstrations for many days,[12] and multiple road closures throughout the Pan-American Highway and minor roads.[13]

President Laurentino Cortizo and his administration appeared multiple times on national media discussing protests and the economic impact of the road closures,[14] justifying their support of the mining contract, without significant progress being made in reducing demonstrations. Eventually, the president proposed a national referendum on whether to preserve the mining contract,[15] which was initially approved by the National Assembly even though it faced strong opposition of the public and the Electoral Tribunal (the electoral commission of the country),[16] but was later dismissed due to numerous concerns.[17] An initiative of repelling the mining contract with a new law was also initially approved by the National Assembly,[18][19] but it was dismissed by consensus as well, as numerous lawyers suggested that the unconstitutionality would be the most appropriate way to shut down Cobre Panamá and ensuring better defense in an eventual international arbitration process.[20]

Following weeks of protests, the president signed Executive Decree (executive order) 23 as a mining moratorium in the country,[21] and later the National Assembly approved a bill suspending the approval of new mining concessions in Panamanian territory on 3 November 2023, which was immediately signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo as Law 407.[22] Meanwhile, First Quantum Minerals was forced to reduce their operations in Cobre Panamá due to the road and sea blockades near the mine and the Punta Rincón port, their export area, by fishermen of the Donoso District.[23][24] This caused the mine to not receive coal for its power plant which caused the mine to reduce operations on November 14[25][26] and later stop operations on November 23.[27][28] First Quantum's stock fell by 50%.[29]

On 28 November 2023, the Supreme Court of Justice unanimously ruled the mining contract as unconstitutional, indicating that it infringed numerous articles of the Constitution.[30][31] The Supreme Court ruling was widely supported by the people, and celebrations erupted around the country.[32][33] On the same day, President Cortizo told the public that his administration will ensure the safe and orderly closure of the mine, in compliance with the ruling.[34] Federico Alfaro, minister of Commerce and Industries and a vocal supporter of the mining contract, resigned from office on 30 November 2023 amid increasing calls from the public following his involvement in the controversy.[35][36]

Four people died in the protests: two in traffic incidents while attempting to close roads, while the remaining two (a teacher and another's husband) were fatally shot in a road closure in Chame District by an elderly man with Panamanian and American citizenship.[37][38][39] The protests were reported to have caused economic losses of around $2000 million,[40] close to First Quantum's 2022 income from the mine which was 2959 million dollars.[41] 2022 was the year before law 406 was enacted which proposed a minimum $375 million dollar payment in royalties to the government annually depending on the mine's income.[42] With the mine's closure it has been reported that the country has seen a reduction in GDP equivalent to 2514 million dollars or 4.5% of GDP, close to the mine's income in 2022.[43] The mine's top export destinations and main customers were located in China and Japan. The mine had no significant Panamanian or Latin American customers so almost all production was exported.[41][44][45][46] Many protesters were charged with crimes.[47] According to a non public study by Indesa, the mine paid 443 million dollars in salaries annually,[48] and gave 200 million annually to Panama's social security program, enough for one month of its operation.[49]

Background

[edit]
Further information: Mining in Panama and Mining conflicts in Panama

Prior to 2021

[edit]

Ever since the 1960s, there has been a gradual push by several panamanian governments usually in succession, to introduce mining and extractive industries to Panama and position them as the main drivers of economic growth and activity in the country, particularly in the country's interior and transitioning Panama away from a transit-based economy or economic model (transitismo in Spanish) which is based on the Panama Canal and Panama's key location in the Americas,[50] into an extractivist economy which would allow the government to take on more debt and prevent tax reforms which could be avoided with a larger GDP number provided by mining.[51]

This push has also been driven by a perceived lack of alternative revenue and economic growth sources which are seen as specially lacking outside the surroundings of the Panama Canal.[51] This extractivist economy or economic model includes not only the mine but also other activities of the primary sector of the economy such as agriculture.[51] Several mining concessions for extraction were granted starting in 1997: Petaquilla and Cerro Quema that same year, Santa Rosa/Cañazas in 2013, and Remance in 2013, which was revoked afterwards and approved again in 2021. With this, mining had become the new source of growth for Panama's GDP.[51] Three mines in Panama have been abandoned and closed improperly: Remance in 1999,[52] Santa Rosa, and Petaquilla Gold, causing distrust among many panamanians towards the mining sector.[53] Remance for example was the subject of a study by the Technological University of Panama which determined that the site was heavily polluted and posed a risk to human health including the risk of causing cancer.[52]

Cobre Panamá is the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America. The exploration process for the mine was started in 1991[51] during the presidency of Guillermo Endara, who assumed office on 20 December 1989 as the first elected president of Panama since Arnulfo Arias in 1968.[54] The original mining contract was given to Petaquilla Gold, S.A. through the Law 9,[55] approved on 26 February 1997 by the National Assembly during the presidency of Ernesto Pérez Balladares.[54]

Richard Fifer, CEO of Petaquilla, sold the concession rights over the mine to First Quantum Minerals (a Canadian-based mining company) for $60 million, with the Panamanian law firm Morgan & Morgan acting as intermediary of the process; however, this action was not allowed by the mining contract of 1997.[56] Juan Carlos Varela, who served as president of Panama from 2014 to 2019, extended the concession for an additional 20 years in 2016.[57] It is reported that all presidents of Panama in the post-intervention era (starting from 1989) have been involved in expanding or supporting the operations of the copper mine, including Mireya Moscoso, Martín Torrijos and Ricardo Martinelli, all of whom served from 1999 to 2014.[54] Former president Juan Carlos Varela praised the mine calling it largest ever foreign investment by a private-sector company in Panama.[58]

Lawyer Juan Ramón Sevillano filed a claim for the unconstitutionality of Law 9 in 1998, which was done again by lawyer Susana Serracín in 2009[51] but it was not ruled by the Supreme Court of Justice until 25 September 2018, 21 years later.[59] The ruling was formally published in the government gazette on 2021, three years after the Supreme Court's decision due to legal measures by First Quantum's law firm Morgan & Morgan to delay its publication,[60] even though the ruling was in effect without being published.[61] Despite this the mine's construction continued in 2019 and the mine went into operation that same year[62][63][64][65][66][67] and the governments of Juan Carlos Varela and Laurentino Cortizo made efforts to justify these actions.[51] First Quantum Minerals was forced to renegotiate the concession with the government of Panama under President Laurentino Cortizo, while they were illegally exploiting the mine and doing unlawful activities in the area.[68]

Negotiations and contract draft

[edit]
Federico Alfaro (left), minister of Commerce and Industries, who negotiated the mining contract with First Quantum Minerals

Following the publication of the Supreme Court ruling on early 2021, First Quantum Minerals started negotiations with the administration of Laurentino Cortizo to write a new mining contract. As reported by the government, the initial negotiations resulted in expanding the revenue for the Panamanian government to a minimum of $375 million annually given copper prices did not decrease significantly and royalty payments from 12-to-16%;[69][70] an increase over the 2% laid out in now unconstitutional Law 9.[71] additionally, it was agreed that Cobre Panamá must pay numerous taxes they were exempted of by the 1997 contract.[72] It was reported that these payments would be used for numerous social programs that were underfunded.[73][74] During the negotiation process doubts against the mine and its contract were raised with some alleging that they represented the absence of the rule of law in Panama.[75]

Even though the government of Panama claimed that this mining contract would be beneficial for the people, numerous lawyers and environmental activists denied those claims and insisted that the new concessions would be extremely damaging for the surroundings of Cobre Panamá, and the Panama Canal.[76][77][78] The first mining contract draft known as Bill 1043 presented to the National Assembly on 21 August 2023[51][79][80] explicitly authorized First Quantum Minerals to destroy forests surrounding Cobre Panamá if it was determined that they had useful resources to expand the mine, and gave them the right to expropriate land from nearby residents for the same reason.[8] It was also reported that the mine could use and divert the course of numerous nearby rivers, including the Indio river (which flows into the Donoso District), which are potentially interrelated with the Panama Canal water system.[8]

There have been concerns about the mine's impact on groundwater contamination[81] and thus water supply for the Panama canal and thus the country which uses its water supply as drinking water, which have been dismissed repeatedly by First Quantum, whose country manager in Panama, Keith Green, stated that the rivers downstream of the the mine site have no users and that the mine is far away from the canal,[82][83][84][85] even though the rivers near the mine site have potential to become sources of water for the Panama Canal.[51] Due to this combined with the country's high water consumption there is concern about the mine's potentially negative impact on the competitiveness of other sectors, particularly the service sector, of the panamanian economy which is primarily service based around the Panama Canal, a situation which could pose an existential threat to the country, rendering its service sector obsolete and additionally the mining sector in the country is in direct competition with the agricultural sector for land and water raising concerns.[51]

The expansion of Cobre Panamá would be potentially dangerous for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, as the mine is already placed within one of its protected areas,[8] and could threaten the water supply of numerous settlements near the Panama Canal and the Canal itself.[8]

In addition this draft was only available on a website where measures were in place to prevent the draft from being copied or downloaded, so a citizen manually transcribed its contents to distribute them widely.[51] The government also refrained from publishing the contract on mass media such as newspapers.[51] At the same time however the government and First Quantum were investing millions in advertising on mass media to publicize the claimed economic benefits of the mine.[51] This situation started to build up doubt and distrust from large swaths of the country's population against the draft of the mining contract over the course of several months.[51] In particular the contract was perceived as establishing an enclave[51] as the mining contract draft also allowed First Quantum to establish and operate sea ports without the need for another contract and without restrictions, as well as the construction of hospitals and shopping malls.[51][42]

Small protests with a couple dozen people started near the National Assembly building in Panama around this time,[86][87] where a supposed debate was started in which protesters were not allowed to participate as they would stand in the way of police suppressing protesters when trying to enter the National Assembly building while the mine's workers and spokespeople were allowed to enter through an entrance normally reserved for trusted personnel and lawmakers.[51] Coverage from mass media outlets was severely lacking as they refrained from publishing or broadcasting these protests.[51]

Final contract

[edit]

Following nationwide controversy about the content of the original draft, the Panamanian government decided to withdraw it on 3 October 2023 prompted by the National Assembly in violation of its constitutional functions[51][42] and promised to remove its controversial content such as the establishment of prohibited airspace up to an altitude of 3000 meters above the mine, concerning given the regular flyovers in the mine site done by mass media outlets[51] and a clause that allowed the mine to expropriate land if mineral or other resources determined to be useful to the mine were found.[88][89][90][91] First Quantum argued prohibited airspace was necessary due to safety reasons and defended the expropriation clause.[92] Minister Federico Alfaro re-introduced the amended contract now known as Bill 1100 on October 16[51] to the National Assembly and it was approved by an standing committee on 18 October 2023 with a 7–2 vote.[93]

National Assembly's Commerce Committee
Roberto Ábrego Ariel Alba Francisco Alemán Víctor Castillo Alaín Cedeño Nelson Jackson Cenobia Vargas Juan Diego Vásquez Elías Vigil
PRD
(13-4)
PRD
(9-2) 		MOLIRENA
(8-2) 		PRD
(8-4) 		CD
(8-6) 		CD
(3-2) 		PRD
(8-6) 		Unaffiliated
(8-2)
PAN
(8-6)
Vote Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes Red XN No Red XN No

The plenary session of the National Assembly approved the Bill 1100, which legalized the mining contract between First Quantum Minerals and the government of Panama, in second and third debate within a timespan of less than 48 hours following the committee's vote. In the second debate, held on 19 October 2023, 58 of the 71 members (81.69%) voted; while in the third debate, held on 20 October 2023, 50 of the 71 members (70.42%) voted.

National Assembly's second and third debate vote
Member Electoral district Votes by debate
Name Party Number Areas included Second Third
Bocas del Toro Province
Abel Beker PRD 1-1 Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Changuinola, Chiriquí Grande Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Benicio Robinson PRD — Green tickY Yes
Coclé Province
Néstor Guardia PRD 2-1 Penonomé Green tickY Yes —
Daniel Ramos PRD abstention abstention
Melchor Herrera PRD 2-2 Antón Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Luis Ernesto Carles PAN 2.3 La Pintada, Natá, Olá — —
Bernardino González PAN 2-4 Aguadulce Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Colón Province
Leopoldo Benedetti CD 3-1 Colón Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Mariano López PRD Green tickY Yes —
Jairo Salazar PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Pedro Torres PAN Red XN No —
Nelson Jackson CD 3-2 Chagres, Donoso, Omar Torrijos Herrera, Portobelo, Santa Isabel Green tickY Yes —
Chiriquí Province
Fernando Arce PRD 4-1 David Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Miguel Fanovich MOLIRENA Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Hugo Méndez PAN Red XN No —
Everardo Concepción PAN 4-2 Barú Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Rony Araúz CD 4-3 Bugaba, Tierras Altas — —
Juan Esquivel PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Gonzalo González PRD 4-4 Alanje, Boquerón, Renacimiento Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Manolo Ruiz MOLIRENA 4-5 Boquete, Dolega, Gualaca Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Ana Giselle Rosas CD 4-6 San Félix, San Lorenzo, Remedios, Tolé — —
Darién Province, Emberá-Wounaan Comarca
Arnulfo Díaz CD 5-1 Chepigana, Santa Fe, Sambú Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Jaime Vargas PRD 5-2 Pinogana, Cémaco Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Herrera Province
Alejandro Castillero PRD 6-1 Chitré Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Julio Mendoza PRD 6-2 Los Pozos, Parita, Pesé Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Marcos Castillero PRD 6-3 Las Minas, Ocú, Santa María Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Los Santos Province
Eric Broce PRD 7-1 Guararé, Las Tablas, Pedasí, Pocrí Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Olivares de Frías PRD 7-2 Los Santos, Macaracas, Tonosí Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Panamá Province
Hernán Delgado CD 8-1 Balboa, Chepo, Chimán, Taboga Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Itzi Atencio PAN 8-2 San Miguelito — —
Francisco Alemán MOLIRENA Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Leandro Ávila PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Dalia Bernal CD Green tickY Yes —
Raúl Pineda PRD Green tickY Yes —
Zulay Rodríguez PRD Red XN No Red XN No
Juan Diego Vásquez Unaffiliated Red XN No Red XN No
Crispiano Adames PRD 8-3 Panamá District
Ancón, Bella Vista, Bethania, Calidonia, Curundú, El Chorrillo, Pueblo Nuevo, San Felipe, Santa Ana 		abstention abstention
Héctor Brands PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Corina Cano MOLIRENA Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Sergio Gálvez CD — —
Gabriel Silva Unaffiliated Red XN No Red XN No
Edison Broce Unaffiliated 8-4 Panamá District
Don Bosco, Juan Díaz, Parque Lefevre, Río Abajo, San Francisco 		Red XN No Red XN No
Víctor Castillo PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Mayín Correa CD — —
Raúl Fernández Unaffiliated Red XN No Red XN No
Javier Sucre PRD — —
Génesis Arjona CD 8-5 Panamá District
Alcalde Díaz, Caimitillo, Chilibre, Ernesto Córdoba Campos, Las Cumbres 		— —
Alina González PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Ardito Rodríguez MOLIRENA Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Alaín Cedeño CD 8-6 Panamá District
24 de Diciembre, Las Garzas, Las Mañanitas, Pacora, Pedregal, San Martín, Tocumen 		Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Cenobia Vargas PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Elías Vigil PAN Red XN No —
Edwin Zúñiga CD — —
Panamá Oeste Province
Kayra Harding PRD 13-1 Arraiján Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Yesenia Rodríguez PAN — —
Marilyn Vallarino CD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Yanibel Ábrego CD 13-2 Capira Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
José Herrera CD 13-3 Chame, San Carlos Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Roberto Ábrego PRD 13-4 La Chorrera Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Roberto Ayala PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Lilia Batista CD — —
Veraguas Province
Fátima Agrazal CD 9-1 Santiago Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Luis Rafael Cruz PRD Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Ariel Alba PRD 9-2 La Mesa, Las Palmas, Soná Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Eugenio Bernal PRD 9-3 Calobre, Cañazas, San Francisco, Santa Fe Red XN No —
Ricardo Torres PRD 9-4 Atalaya, Mariato, Montijo, Río de Jesús Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Guna Yala Comarca
Petita Ayarza PRD 10-1 Ailigandí, Madugandí Comarca, Narganá — Green tickY Yes
Arquesio Arias PRD 10-2 Ailigandí, Puerto Obaldía, Tubualá, Wargandí Comarca Green tickY Yes Green tickY Yes
Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca
Leopoldo Archibold CD 12-1 Jirondai, Kankintú, Kusapín, Santa Catalina o Calovébora — —
Adán Bejerano Unaffiliated 12-2 Besikó, Mironó, Nole Duima — —
Ricardo Santo PRD 12-3 Müna, Ñürum Green tickY Yes —
Results of the vote by debate Green tickY 47 Green tickY 43
Red XN 9 Red XN 5
Source: National Assembly of Panamá
Seat of the National Assembly in Panama City, Panama

All but two of the present members of the PRD, all members of the MOLIRENA, two members (Everardo Concepción and Bernardino González) of the Panameñista Party, and 9 members of Democratic Change (all from the supporting coalition of former president Ricardo Martinelli) voted in support of the mining contract during the second debate. Nine members voted in opposition: Eugenio Bernal and Zulay Rodríguez from the PRD; Hugo Méndez, Pedro Torres and Elías Vigil from the Panameñista Party; and unaffiliated members Edison Broce, Raúl Fernández, Gabriel Silva and Juan Diego Vásquez.

In the third debate, 41 members repeated their votes in support of the mining contract, with PRD members Petita Ayarza and Benicio Robinson joining them for the first time. Six members who voted in support but missed this debate: Ricardo Santo, Raúl Pineda, Mariano López and Néstor Guardia from the PRD; Dalia Bernal and Nelson Jackson from Democratic Change. On the other hand, five members voted in opposition during the third debate: Zulay Rodríguez from the PRD; and unaffiliated members Edison Broce, Raúl Fernández, Gabriel Silva and Juan Diego Vásquez. Four members voted in opposition but missed this debate: Eugenio Bernal from the PRD; Hugo Méndez, Pedro Torres and Elías Vigil from the Panameñista Party. Less than 12 hours after the approval by the National Assembly, President Laurentino Cortizo signed into law the mining contract as Law 406 of 20 October 2023, with unanimous consent of the members of the Council of Ministers.[10][94][95] It was posted on the government gazette the same day at night.[96][51] Due to the short timespan over which the debates occurred and the law was signed into effect, there was no effective discussion on it within the National Assembly nor the President's office.[42]

Controversies

[edit]

Conflict of interest

[edit]
Aristides Royo (right), minister of Canal Affairs, during a visit to the Panama Canal by U.S. secretary of State Antony Blinken and secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas (19 April 2022)

La Prensa, a Panamanian newspaper, reported numerous infringements of the regulations concerning conflict of interest, related to the mining contract, by three ministers of the administration of Laurentino Cortizo: Federico Alfaro, minister of Commerce and Industries; Aristides Royo, minister of Canal Affairs and former president of Panama; and Rafael Sabonge, minister of Public Works.[97] As reported by the newspaper, they infringed these laws for the following reasons:

Rómulo Roux (right), meeting with Hugo Swire, British Minister of State for Europe and the Americas (17 December 2013)

Incumbent vice president and 2024 presidential candidate José Gabriel Carrizo was also reported of infringing conflict of interest regulations as he served as lawyer for Petaquilla Gold, the early owner of Cobre Panamá,[103][104] of which his mother Lydia Jaén de Carrizo served as executive.[105][106] The political campaign for 2024 of his party the PRD, is also reported to have received undisclosed political donations from another mining company, Orla Mining which also seeks to operate another mine in Panama at Cerro Quema, and several members of his personal network which were also associated with the political campaign were also reported to have ties with the Petaquilla mine which would later be operated by First Quantum. The Tribunal Electoral has no means to audit and thus publish political donations.[107][108][109] Additionally company ownership information in Panama is restricted information (confidential information) only available to company owners and certain lawyers.[92][110]

Another 2024 presidential candidate, Rómulo Roux, who served as minister of Foreign Affairs during the presidency of Ricardo Martinelli and the current president of Democratic Change, is also heavily involved with First Quantum Minerals as a member of the law firm Morgan & Morgan;[111] Roux has been a vocal supporter of the mining contract,[112] and criticized politicians who opposed it saying that "They should stop talking crap" during a YouTube podcast with OliMezaTV.[113][114]

Aftermath

[edit]

Supreme Court decision

[edit]
Protesters in front of the seat of the Supreme Court, Panama City

Early reports surfaced suggesting the Supreme Court was likely to rule against the mining contract in Law 406.[115] On 28 November 2023, the 9 justices of the Supreme Court of Justice unanimously ruled the mining contract Law 406, signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo the previous month, as unconstitutional.[30][31][116] Through a 234-page document containing arguments of plaintiffs Juan Ramón Sevillano and Martita Cornejo, solicitor general Rigoberto González, and 90 legal opinions from numerous lawyers in support or opposition of the unconstitutionality of the mining contract.[42] Pressure from society caused the court to enter a permanent session and according to lawyer Rodrigo Noriega they did not influence the court's decision as the unconstitutionality of law 9 was upheld.[51]

The justices determined that the mining contract in law 406 between First Quantum Minerals and the government of Panama infringed twenty-five articles of the Panamanian constitution, including numerous articles concerning the sovereignty, the duty of preserving people's safety, the fundamental rights, a lack of public consultation due to the quick approval of the contract in just 3 subsequent days and international law:[117] articles 4, 17, 18, 19, 20, 32, 43, 46, 56, 109, 118, 119, 120, 121, 124, 159 (sections 10 and 15), 163 (section 1), 200 (section 3), 257 (section 5), 258, 259, 266, 285, 286 and 298[42] As the Supreme Court also upheld their 2017 ruling of the previous Law 9 that allowed the mine to operate before Law 406 was enacted,[118] and reported that First Quantum Minerals illegally exploited the mine for the span between 2021 and 2023,[119][68] María Eugenia López (chief justice of the Supreme Court) said during the public announcement of the ruling that the mining contract would be removed from the Panamanian regulatory system;[120] therefore, the government of Panama must ensure the orderly and safe shutting down of the operation of First Quantum Minerals in Panamanian territory.[121][122] Official Gazette No. 29685-D[123] in December 2022 published a closure order for the mine due to the unconstitutionality of Law 9, which was not enforced.[41][45] The ruling was published in the government gazette four days later, on 2 December 2023,[124] effectively ending the protests in the country.[125]

Public reaction

[edit]
Protesters celebrating the Supreme Court's ruling in the center of Panama City, 28 November 2023

The Supreme Court's ruling was widely supported by the people and numerous lawyers, and celebrations erupted throughout the country.[32][33] The plaintiffs Juan Ramón Sevillano and Martita Cornejo, who were also prominent leaders of the demonstrations, celebrated the ruling and called it an outstanding victory following weeks of protests opposing the mining contract.[126] There were numerous celebrations in Panama City, with the hotspot being in the financial center located in San Francisco, and other major cities and towns.[127]

Protesters decided to withdraw most road closures throughout the Pan-American Highway and other minor roads,[128] and basic products started to be distributed again throughout Panama. Teachers agreed to dismiss their labor strike on 2 December 2023 and in-person classes were resumed in all Panamanian state and private schools on 6 December.[129][130] On the same day, 2 December, protesters agreed to withdraw the remaining road closures in Chiriquí Province following the publication of the Supreme Court ruling in the government gazette.[125]

Public opinion of the administration of Laurentino Cortizo and most members of the National Assembly was severely damaged,[131] with the governing parties PRD and MOLIRENA getting poor support and candidates' stance on mining in Panama becoming a flashpoint for the upcoming general elections.[132][133] These protests are the largest held during the Panamanian post-intervention era, as the largest demonstrations since the National Civic Crusade between 1987 and 1989 in opposition to the dictatorship of Manuel Noriega (supported by the PRD).[134]

This situation brought attention to several abandoned open pit mines in Panama, including Remance, Santa Rosa[52][53] and the Petaquilla gold mine which is very close to the Cobre Panama mine,[53] and a technical committee part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was formed by volunteers to properly close and perform mine reclamation on these mines including Cobre Panama.[135][136]

2024 general election

[edit]
See also: 2024 Panamanian general election

Following the general election on 5 May 2024, the governing coalition of PRD and MOLIRENA suffered major losses in both national and local elections, with the PRD getting its worst-ever electoral result. Its candidate, incumbent vice president José Gabriel Carrizo, came in sixth place with 5.88% of the vote; and they lost a total of 26 seats in the National Assembly, with most of the members who voted for the mining contract being ousted.[137] Rómulo Roux, candidate of CD and Panameñista Party and a vocal supporter of the mining contract,[112][113] came in fourth place with 11.38% of the vote and the coalition lost 10 seats in the National Assembly (with none of the previous members being reelected), including 3 seats allocated to members who were reelected as members of Realizing Goals.[138]

First Quantum's response

[edit]

After law 406 was ruled unconstitutional, First Quantum through its subsidiary Minera Panamá which operates Cobre Panamá, argued that the unconstitutionality ruling did not invalidate the mining agreement that allowed the mine to operate, but no such agreement was found by Panama's comptroller general.[139] Following Panama's 2024 general election, the mining company expressed its anticipation of engaging in dialogue with the new government. In its latest statement, the company noted, "We look forward to a dialogue with a new government and working together once it takes office to find a resolution that is in Panama's best interest."[140][141] First Quantum seeks to engage in negotiations to reopen the mine.[142]

Since the mine's closure, First Quantum started to offer tours to the mine site[143] and has engaged in a public relations outreach campaign to improve panamanians' perception of the mine, called Cobre Conecta, which engages in several types of media. The campaign aims to highlight claimed economic benefits of the mine and position it as a beneficial activity for the country due to its economic activity, which is panamanians' top concern.[144][145][146] According to First Quantum's public relations manager in Panama, Maru Galvez, this strategy has worked and the number of people against the mine has decreased and the program has as its goal the granting of a social license to restart the mine.[147][148]

The mine's worker's union on 13 February 2025, carried out a protest to request the reopening of the mine.[149]

Mulino's victory

[edit]

Royal Bank of Canada analyst Sam Crittenden commented on José Raúl Mulino's victory as president of Panama, stating that it is a positive development for First Quantum. However, he also emphasized the existing uncertainty surrounding the Cobre Panama project and the need to improve public perception of mining. Crittenden highlighted that negotiations with the new government are necessary before any potential reopening of the project.[142][150] Mulino has stated that no environmental risks exist at the mine site[151] and that the protests that led to the mine's closure were caused by the handling of the mine by the government at the time.[152]

Mulino met with the mine's providers on February 24, 2025, after a letter was sent by them on February 10, 2025,[153] who expressed concern over the mine's continued closure. They request that the mine be restarted to prevent bankruptcy or closure of their companies. They stated that over 70% have had to lay off personnel as a result of the mine's closure and requested that the mine be opened in 2025.[154] Many of these companies had the mine as their main or even sole customer.[43][155]

Mulino has lamented the closure of the mine, highlighting the stranded assets of many local mine suppliers and calling the situation sad and depressing.[156][155] Mulino stated he will not engage in negotiations with the mine unless its arbitration proceedings are suspended.[157][158] First Quantum stock rose once Mulino mentioned that "Novel ideas" were being explored for the future of the mine. Mulino is friendlier to business than his predecessor and stated he would deal with the mine once the country's social security reform is complete.[159][160] He said that a lot of the economic troubles the country is going through were caused by the mine's closure.[161][162]

According to Panama's mining chamber and Roderick Gutiérrez, its president, over 54,000 indirect jobs were lost.[43][163] This is higher than published in a non public study by Indesa which mentioned over 40,000 jobs,[164] which in turn is higher than the figure of 35,000 reported earlier.[165][166] According to an earnings call the company had laid off 4,000 employees.[167]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.dw.com/es/panam%C3%A1-y-fqm-reabrir%C3%A1n-mina-m%C3%A1s-grande-de-centroam%C3%A9rica/a-64926629
  2. ^ "Royo, Aristides - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  3. ^ "Roux, Romulo - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  4. ^ Oppmann, Patrick (2023-11-09). "Two demonstrators killed amid anti-mining protests in Panama". CNN. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  5. ^ "Journalists denounce violence during protests in Panama". LatAm Journalism Review by the Knight Center. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  6. ^ Salcedo, Andrea (2023-11-09). "Why ordinarily quiet Panama has erupted in deadly protests". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  7. ^ Guevara, Cristina (2023-12-18). "Panama's Mining Future Is at a Tipping Point". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Panama's Massive Environmental Awakening". NACLA. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  9. ^ "Reporte de la sesión ordinaria - Votación: Tercer Debate al Proyecto de Ley No. 1100". Reportes de transparencia de la Asamblea Nacional de Panamá. 2023-10-20.
  10. ^ a b Moreno, Elida (2023-10-20). "Panama's president gives final approval to major copper mine contract". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  11. ^ Divya Rajagopal, Valentine Hilaire (2023-11-28). "Why might Panama cancel a copper mine contract?". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  12. ^ S, María Mónica Monsalve (2023-10-27). "Mass protests in Panama to reject new concession for largest copper mine in Central America". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  13. ^ "Anti-mining protesters in Panama say road blockades will be suspended for 12 hours on Monday". AP News. 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  14. ^ "Panama president pushes back against Canadian copper mine protests". France 24. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  15. ^ "Panama's leader calls for referendum on mining concession, seeking to calm protests over the deal". AP News. 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  16. ^ "Panama Congress Committee Votes in Favor of Mine Referendum". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  17. ^ Shaw, Alfie (2023-10-31). "Panama referendum on copper mining will not go ahead". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  18. ^ "Panama Congress Backs Repealing First Quantum Mine Contract". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  19. ^ "Panama's Assembly looks to revoke contract for Canadian mining company after public outcry". AP News. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  20. ^ "¿Derogación o Inconstitucionalidad? Pelea de opiniones jurídicas | Foco Panamá" (in Spanish). 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  21. ^ https://revistas.up.ac.pa/index.php/rev_pma_ciencias_sociales/article/download/5155/4047/7973
  22. ^ "Panama president signs into law a moratorium on new mining concessions. A Canadian mine is untouched". AP News. 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  23. ^ "Panama Copper Mine Is Winding Down Amid Blockade, Union Says". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  24. ^ Shaw, Alfie (2023-10-30). "Panama protestors break into copper mine port". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  25. ^ Ramos, Bertha (November 13, 2023). "Minera Panamá anuncia reducción de operaciones por los bloqueos". CNN.
  26. ^ "Protests force First Quantum to reduce copper ore processing at Panama mine".
  27. ^ Editorial, Mesa (November 24, 2023). "First Quantum en Panamá deja de operar a nivel de producción comercial".
  28. ^ "First Quantum plans maintenance for Panama copper mine amid protests".
  29. ^ "Copper Miner First Quantum Has Lost Half of Its Value This Week - Bloomberg".
  30. ^ a b "Panama's Supreme Court declares 20-year contract for Canadian copper mine unconstitutional". AP News. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  31. ^ a b EFE, Agencia (2023-11-23). "Five keys to why a large mine in Panama faces a ruling that could spell its end". EFE Noticias. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  32. ^ a b Taylor, Luke (2023-11-28). "'Historic moment': Panama activists celebrate ruling against copper mine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  33. ^ a b Fox, Michael. "Panama celebrates court order to cancel mine even as business is hit". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  34. ^ "UPDATE 8-Panama president directs First Quantum to shut copper mine after court ruling". Yahoo Finance. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  35. ^ Moreno, Elida (2023-12-01). "Panama trade minister resigns after mining contract backlash". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  36. ^ "Panama trade minister resigns after mining contract backlash". MINING.COM. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  37. ^ Oppmann, Patrick (2023-11-09). "Two demonstrators killed amid anti-mining protests in Panama". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  38. ^ Dorgan, Michael (2023-11-09). "American lawyer arrested for fatally shooting two environmental protesters at Panama road blockade: police". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  39. ^ Millward, David (2023-11-08). "Chilling moment gunman kills two protesters blocking road in Panama". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  40. ^ https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/protestas-por-minera-podrian-disminuir-el-crecimiento-del-pib-2023-de-panama-en-16-HG5484786>
  41. ^ a b c https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/f/TSX_FM_2022.pdf
  42. ^ a b c d e f "Gaceta Oficial - Declaración de inconstitucionalidad de la Ley 406 del 20 de octubre de 2023 por parte de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  43. ^ a b c "Proveedores de la mina piden dialogar con la ciudadanía; Gobierno reafirma estrategia de negociación". www.laestrella.com.pa.
  44. ^ "60% del cobre de Donoso ha terminado en China". 19 December 2019.
  45. ^ a b https://s24.q4cdn.com/821689673/files/doc_downloads/2024/03/first-quantum-2023-annual-report.pdf
  46. ^ "Cobre ha elevado nuestra relación comercial con China". 2 June 2023.
  47. ^ Fox, Michael (January 19, 2024). "Panama Hits Activists With Terrorism Charges Over Successful Anti-Mining Protests". Truthout.
  48. ^ economia.pa@epasa.com\/ @PanamaAmerica, Redacci\u00f3n \/ (January 18, 2023). "Indesa presenta informe de impacto económico de Cobre Panamá". Panamá América.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ "$200 millones de ingresos mineros anuales solventan apenas un mes de pensiones". www.prensa.com. April 11, 2023.
  50. ^ "El Transitismo – Extractivista". www.laestrella.com.pa.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w https://revistas.usma.ac.pa/ojs/index.php/IEP/article/download/383/595/1085
  52. ^ a b c "Minas abandonadas: un legado de contaminación y amenazas a la salud". www.prensa.com. December 5, 2023.
  53. ^ a b c "Petaquilla Gold: viaje al centro de una mina abandonada". www.prensa.com. January 5, 2024.
  54. ^ a b c Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Contrato minero: crimen y castigo". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  55. ^ "Legispan de la Asamblea Nacional - Ley No. 9 del 26 de febrero de 1997: "Por la cual se aprueba el contrato celebrado entre el Estado y la Sociedad Minera Petaquilla, S.A." Derecho Comercial" (PDF). Legispan - Asamblea Legislativa de Panamá. 1997-02-26.
  56. ^ "Fifer, 'el padre de la minería panameña'". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  57. ^ "Criticism about contract between Government and Minera Panama grows - Prensa Latina". 2023-03-05. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  58. ^ "Economía - Proyecto Cobre Panamá: "la mayor inversión extranjera en la historia del país"". 21 February 2019.
  59. ^ "Supreme Court rules law on First Quantum's Cobre Panama unconstitutional". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  60. ^ "Declaración de Inconstitucionalidad de la Ley 9 del 26 de febrero de 1997: "Contrato de Explotación Minera entre el Estado y Minera Petaquilla, S.A." - Corte Suprema de Justicia" (PDF). Government gazette of Panama, issued by the Supreme Court of Justice. 2021-06-28.
  61. ^ Noticias, Redacción de TVN (November 25, 2023). "Contrato Minero:Publicación del fallo en Gaceta no sería necesario para su ejecutoría según abogado". Tvn Panamá.
  62. ^ "Minera Panamá inicia exportación de concentrado de cobre con 31,200 toneladas". www.laestrella.com.pa.
  63. ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). cdn.corprensa.com.
  64. ^ "Panamá: Exportación de cobre se iniciará a mediados de 2019". www.revistaeyn.com.
  65. ^ "Mina de cobre generó $524 millones en 2019". www.prensa.com. February 17, 2020.
  66. ^ https://s24.q4cdn.com/821689673/files/doc_presentations/2021/2021-Annual-Report.pdf
  67. ^ https://s24.q4cdn.com/821689673/files/doc_downloads/2020-annual-report/First_Quantum_2020_Annual_Report.pdf
  68. ^ a b "Panamanian Group Tries to Stop the Only Open-Pit Mine". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  69. ^ Government of Panama, Ministry of Economy and Finance (2023-09-06). "Contrato minero provocará cambios a favor del país".
  70. ^ "Presidente Cortizo Cohen reitera que contrato con Minera Panamá "es bueno para el país" - GTC en Veraguas". www.presidencia.gob.pa. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  71. ^ "Cobre Panamá podría extender proyecto minero en Panamá de 40 a 70 años". www.laestrella.com.pa.
  72. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Mici: Contrato minero 'va a tener un impacto positivo en la economía panameña'". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  73. ^ swissinfo.ch, S. W. I. (March 29, 2022). "Panamá destinará el 50 % de ingresos de contrato minero para las jubilaciones".
  74. ^ "Years of growth forged prosaic politics. Now Panamanians are fed up" – via The Economist.
  75. ^ Zea, Mary Triny (March 29, 2023). ""Contrato con mina muestra que en Panamá no existe un verdadero Estado de derecho"". Bloomberg Línea.
  76. ^ "Panama protests to protect ecosystems and canal against pending mining deal". Mongabay Environmental News. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  77. ^ Zea, Mary Triny (2023-03-03). "Central America's Largest Copper Mine Faces Uncertain Future as Problems Pile Up". Bloomberg Línea. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  78. ^ "Copper mine destroying forests in Panama's Mesoamerican Biological Corridor". Mongabay Environmental News. 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  79. ^ https://defensoria.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/Informe-Defensorial-Rechazo-Contrato-Minero.pdf
  80. ^ https://elcapitalfinanciero.com/parlamento-aprueba-metodologia-para-debate-sobre-el-contrato-de-concesion-entre-el-estado-y-minera-panama/
  81. ^ "UICNPA 113 Informe ELAW Cobre Panama Dic 9 Ver Español".
  82. ^ "20 cuestionamientos al proyecto de contrato-ley entre la República de Panamá y Minera Panamá". 29 August 2023.
  83. ^ "Respuestas de Minera Panamá a artículo de Rodrigo Noriega". 2 September 2023.
  84. ^ "BNamericas - First Quantum lucha por recuperar licencia S".
  85. ^ "First Quantum steps up campaign to reopen Panama copper mine".
  86. ^ "Panamá: manifestaciones generalizadas contra la mayor concesión minera para la explotación de cobre". Civicus Monitor.
  87. ^ Noticias, Redacción de TVN (August 31, 2023). "Aumenta la tensión durante el cuarto día de protestas en los predios de la Asamblea". Tvn Panamá.
  88. ^ Zea, Mary Triny (October 17, 2023). "Estos son los cambios del nuevo contrato ley con Minera Panamá que vuelve a la Asamblea". Bloomberg Línea.
  89. ^ "20 cuestionamientos al proyecto de contrato-ley entre la República de Panamá y Minera Panamá". www.prensa.com. August 29, 2023.
  90. ^ "Contrato entre el Estado panameño y Cobre Panamá (II)". www.laestrella.com.pa.
  91. ^ Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno (2023-10-03). "Panama to withdraw proposed contract for Canadian miner First Quantum's unit". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  92. ^ a b "Respuestas de Minera Panamá a artículo de Rodrigo Noriega". www.prensa.com. September 2, 2023.
  93. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Comisión de Comercio aprueba en primer debate el contrato minero". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  94. ^ "Panama's president gives final approval to First Quantum copper mine contract". MINING.COM. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  95. ^ "Consejo de Gabinete aprueba el Contrato con las respectivas modificaciones entre el Estado y Minera Panamá S.A." www.presidencia.gob.pa. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  96. ^ https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/29894_A/101138.pdf
  97. ^ a b c d "Ley de conflicto de interés habría sido ignorada por ministros vinculados a la aprobación de la Ley 406". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  98. ^ Zea, Mary Triny (2023-04-24). "Ministerio de Comercio pide a la Procuraduría no revelar consulta del fallo referente a la mina de cobre". Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  99. ^ "Mining - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  100. ^ "Royo, Aristides - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  101. ^ a b "Reclaman a Sabonge y Rojas su nexo con empresa que trabaja para la minera". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  102. ^ Noticias, Redacción de TVN (2023-11-09). "Ministro Sabonge admite el desarrollo de proyecto inmobiliario para Minera Panamá". Tvn Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  103. ^ "Vicepresidente Carrizo admite que trabajó para Petaquilla, pero... así reaccionó Cortizo". www.midiario.com (in Spanish). 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  104. ^ "Panamá quiere lavar el rostro a su minería y convertirla en motor económico". France 24. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  105. ^ "CRITICA EN LINEA: la voz del interior". portal.critica.com.pa. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  106. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Petaquilla Gold contradice versión de Gold Dragon". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  107. ^ "Minera canadiense pide $400 millones por cancelación de Cerro Quema". www.prensa.com. July 7, 2024.
  108. ^ https://miningwatch.ca/sites/default/files/informe_protestasantimineras_panama.pdf
  109. ^ "El círculo minero de la Caja 2 del PRD". www.prensa.com. November 16, 2023.
  110. ^ https://www.uaf.gob.pa/tmp/file/532/Ley-129-de-2020-Compendio.pdf
  111. ^ "Roux, Romulo - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  112. ^ a b Noticias, Redacción de TVN (2023-07-16). "'Tito' Afú, Martinelli, contrato minero y matrimonio igualitario ¿Qué dijo Rómulo Roux?". Tvn Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  113. ^ a b El que está en contra de LA MINERIA, habla PURA PAJA. ➡️ROMULO ROUX. video completo OliMezaTV⬇️, retrieved 2023-12-09
  114. ^ LA DIFERENCIA ENTRE LOS QUE VIVEN Y LOS QUE NO VIVEN DE LA POLITICA ROMULO ROUX - OLI MEZA PODCAST, retrieved 2023-12-09
  115. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/panama-court-likely-revoke-first-quantum-copper-mine-contract-2023-11-13/
  116. ^ Harrup, José de Córdoba and Anthony. "Panama's Supreme Court Rules Against Major Copper Mine". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  117. ^ "E&E News: Panama's high court declares mining contract unconstitutional". subscriber.politicopro.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  118. ^ "Gaceta Oficial No. 29439 del 22 de diciembre de 2021" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  119. ^ "Los recursos que pesan sobre el nuevo contrato minero". www.prensa.com. August 19, 2023.
  120. ^ "Panama copper mine to close after Supreme Court rules concession unconstitutional". Mongabay Environmental News. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  121. ^ "Cobre Panamá: Panama orders controversial copper mine's closure". 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  122. ^ "Panama to Shut Down First Quantum Mine After Ruling, President Says". Bloomberg.com. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  123. ^ https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/29685_D/95628.pdf
  124. ^ https://www.organojudicial.gob.pa/uploads/blogs.dir/2/2024/12/728/1153472023.pdf
  125. ^ a b "Panama publishes ruling finding First Quantum contract unconstitutional". Reuters. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  126. ^ Luis \u00c1vila (2023-11-28). "¿Qué sigue tras la inconstitucionalidad del contrato minero?". Panamá América (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  127. ^ O, Jilma Aguilar (2023-11-28). "Panameños se concentran en Calle 50 para celebrar fallo de inconstitucionalidad de la Ley 406 del contrato minero". Tvn Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  128. ^ "Celebración y apertura de vías por fallo de inconstitucionalidad". www.critica.com.pa (in Spanish). 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  129. ^ "Las clases se reanudarán en Panamá tras seis semanas de paro por contrato minero". France 24. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  130. ^ "Panamá reanudará clases tras prolongada huelga – DW – 02/12/2023". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  131. ^ Brown, Rich (2023-10-26). "Panama's Protests Are About More Than a Mine". Americas Quarterly. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  132. ^ Hilaire, Valentine; Moreno, Elida; Hilaire, Valentine (2023-11-28). "Canada mining deal emerges as flashpoint in Panama 2024 election". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  133. ^ Valerio, Alejandro (2023-12-06). "What Panama's Mining Showdown Means for Its Presidential Race". Americas Quarterly. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  134. ^ Salcedo, Andrea (2023-11-09). "Why ordinarily quiet Panama has erupted in deadly protests". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  135. ^ https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/comite-panameno-de-uicn-solicita-a-gobierno-formar-parte-de-cierre-de-mina/
  136. ^ https://www.prensa.com/politica/cierres-y-abandono-de-minas-las-amargas-experiencias-en-panama/
  137. ^ "El gobernante PRD obtiene su peor resultado presidencial en unas elecciones de Panamá". infobae (in European Spanish). 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  138. ^ Marquinez, Arellys (6 May 2024). "¿Voto castigo? Estos son los diputados que buscaban la reelección, pero no salieron". TVN Noticias. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  139. ^ "Mici niega que haya existido acuerdo previo con la minera". 4 December 2023.
  140. ^ "What will Panama's new government mean for copper?". Benchmark Source. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  141. ^ Caballero, Errol (2024-04-30). "As elections near, what's next for Panama's closed copper mine?". Dialogue Earth. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  142. ^ a b Lorinc, Jacob (2024-05-06). "First Quantum buscará negociar una reapertura de Cobre Panamá con presidente electo Mulino". Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  143. ^ https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/mici-le-llama-la-atencion-a-cobre-panama-por-programa-abierto-de-visitantes-NY6199492
  144. ^ https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/exclusiva-encuesta-desempleo-principal-problema-para-los-panamenos-EH10245133
  145. ^ https://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/nacionales/las-diez-principales-preocupaciones-de-los-panamenos-en-2024-XK8509099
  146. ^ https://www.prensa.com/politica/estos-son-los-cinco-problemas-que-mas-preocupan-a-los-panamenos/
  147. ^ "BNamericas - First Quantum lucha por recuperar licencia s..." BNamericas.com.
  148. ^ "First Quantum steps up campaign to reopen Panama copper mine".
  149. ^ "UTRAMIPA realizará marcha para exigir reapertura de la mina de cobre". www.metrolibre.com.
  150. ^ "Cobre Panama: How a $10 billion copper mine is now sitting idle in the jungle". MINING.COM. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  151. ^ https://www.reuters.com/latam/domestico/4TNSLPGZYJNVJJHVMWZN4BP6TU-2024-12-19/
  152. ^ https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/idea-mulino-explorar-concepto-abrir-mina-cobre_1_2138315.html
  153. ^ https://www.prensa.com/economia/proveedores-de-cobre-panama-advierten-cierre-definitivo-de-empresas-si-no-se-reabre-la-mina-este-ano/
  154. ^ https://www.prensa.com/economia/presidente-jose-raul-mulino-se-reune-con-proveedores-de-la-mina/
  155. ^ a b https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=paqYzUB8cng
  156. ^ https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/mulino-dice-ideas-novedosas-cambiar_1_2179136.html
  157. ^ https://www.prensa.com/economia/presidente-sobre-la-mina-sin-suspension-de-arbitrajes-no-hay-dialogo-con-first-quantum/?utm_source=prensacom&utm_medium=Seccion&utm_campaign=Ultima+Hora
  158. ^ https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/mulino-panama-no-se-va-sentar-a-negociar-sobre-la-mina-con-una-pistola-en-la-cabeza-JG7998795
  159. ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-27/panama-explora-nuevas-ideas-sobre-mina-de-cobre-first-quantum
  160. ^ https://www.mining.com/web/panamas-novel-ideas-comments-offer-hope-for-copper-mine/
  161. ^ https://es.marketscreener.com/cotizacion/indice/S-P-GSCI-COPPER-INDEX-2-46869179/noticia/Panam-preocupada-por-las-consecuencias-econ-micas-del-cierre-de-la-mina-Cobre-Panam--49190198/
  162. ^ https://elcapitalfinanciero.com/reapertura-de-la-mina-esta-condicionada-a-suspension-de-los-arbitrajes-de-minera-panama-insiste-mulino/
  163. ^ https://www.prensa.com/economia/cierre-de-cobre-panama-genero-la-perdida-de-54107-empleos-segun-la-camara-minera/
  164. ^ https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/indesa-estima-aporte-pib-cobre-panama-4-8-2021-DFLE484610
  165. ^ https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/economia/mina-de-cobre-que-pasa-si-no-se-firma-el-nuevo-contrato-1215577
  166. ^ https://m.metrolibre.com/economia/cobre-panama-mas-de-10-billones-y-7-mil-empleos-KL5397682
  167. ^ https://seekingalpha.com/article/4728712-first-quantum-minerals-ltd-fqvlf-q3-2024-earnings-call-transcript
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Panamanian_protests&oldid=1279686044"