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2023 Panamanian protests
Protesters demonstrating in the Cinta Costera of Panama City on 5 November 2023
Date20 October 2023 (2023-10-20) – November 28, 2023 (2023-11-28)
(1 month, 1 week and 2 days)
Location
Panama
Caused byRenovation of the mining contract of Cobre Panamá, located in a protected area within 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[11]
Injuries40 policemen and numerous protesters, including a militant photographer[12]
Arrested1 061 protesters, including numerous union members[13][14]

A series of protests began in Panama on 20 October 2023 following the immediate passing of a 20 to 40-years mining contract[15] between the government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals, the operator of Cobre Panamá, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, located 20 minutes away from the western coast of Colon Province within a protected area of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.[16][17]

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 42-5 vote, in less than 12 hours.[18] The protests and road closures were expanded nationwide as soon as the public learned of the suspicious details related to the approval of the mining contract and its controversial content.[19] The main centers of the demonstrations included Panama City, Colón, La Chorrera, Penonomé, Santiago and David, with massive demonstrations for many days[20], as well as multiple road closures throughout the Pan-American Highway and other minor Panamanian roads.[21]

President Laurentino Cortizo and his administration appeared multiple times on national television discussing the protests and the economic impact of the road closures,[22] justifying their approval of the mining contract,[23] without significant progress being made in reducing anger of the public. Eventually, the president proposed a national referendum on whetever to preserve the mining contract,[24] but it was rejected by the public, lawyers[25] and the Electoral Tribunal following numerous concerns. An initiative of repeling the mining contract with a new law, initially approved by the National Assembly,[26] was later overthrown by consensus as the declaration of unconstitutionality by the Supreme Court would be more appropriate to defend the country in an eventual international arbitration process.[27][28]

Following weeks of protests, the National Assembly approved a bill suspending new mining concessions in Panamanian territory on 3 November 2023, that was immediately signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo.[29] Meanwhile, First Quantum Minerals was forced to reduce their operations in Cobre Panamá due to the blockades in the street and the International Port of Punta Rincón, the exporting point of the mine, by fishermen of the Donoso District.[30][31]

On 28 November 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled the mining contract as unconstitutional, indicating that it violated numerous articles of the Constitution.[32][33] The ruling of the Supreme Court was received with nationwide support, and celebrations erupted throughout the country; First Quantum Minerals, however, indicated that they were going to review the ruling.[34][35][36] 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.[37]

A total of four people died in the protests. Two of them died in traffic incidents while attempting to close roads;[38] the remaining two victims, a teacher and another teacher's husband, were fatally shot in a road closure in Chame District by an elderly man with dual citizenship.[39][40][41][42]

Background

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Prior to 2021

[edit]

Cobre Panamá is the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America. The exploration process for the mine was started 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.

Initial negotiations and contract draft

[edit]

Final contract

[edit]

The mining contract between the Government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals (the operator of Cobre Panamá), officially known as Law 406 of 20 October 2023,[43] was approved in a 42-5 vote by the National Assembly of Panama on 20 October 2023 and signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo later that same day.[18][44] The contract was negotiated by Federico Alfaro, Minister of Commerce and Industries, and Manuel Aizpurúa, the legal representative of First Quantum Minerals.[45] It is essentially a re-negotiation of the original mining contract, approved on 26 February 1997 by the National Assembly during the presidency of Ernesto Pérez Balladares,[46] and struck down by the Supreme Court on 21 December 2017 (although it was officially announced on 22 December 2021).[47][48]

National Assembly vote

[edit]
Member Electoral district Votes by debate
Number Province Second Third
Democratic Revolutionary Party
Roberto Ábrego 8-5 Panamá Oeste Green tickY Yes
Crispiano Adames 8-7 Panamá abstention
Ariel Alba 9-2 Veraguas Green tickY Yes
Fernando Arce 4-1 Chiriquí Green tickY Yes
Arquesio Arias 10-2 Guna Yala Green tickY Yes
Leandro Ávila 8-6 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Roberto Ayala 8-5 Panamá Oeste Green tickY Yes
Petita Ayarza 10-1 Guna Yala — Green tickY Yes
Abel Beker 1-1 Bocas del Toro Green tickY Yes
Eugenio Bernal 9-3 Veraguas Red XN No —
Héctor Brands 8-7 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Eric Broce 7-1 Los Santos Green tickY Yes
Marcos Castillero 6-3 Herrera Green tickY Yes
Alejandro Castillero 6-1 Herrera Green tickY Yes
Víctor Castillo 8-8 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Luis Rafael Cruz 9-1 Veraguas Green tickY Yes
Olivares de Frías 7-2 Los Santos Green tickY Yes
Juan Esquivel 4-3 Chiriquí Green tickY Yes
Alina González 8-9 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Gonzalo González 4-4 Chiriquí Green tickY Yes
Néstor Guardia 2-1 Coclé Green tickY Yes —
Kayra Harding 8-1 Panamá Oeste Green tickY Yes
Melchor Herrera 2-2 Coclé Green tickY Yes
José María Herrera 8-3 Panamá Oeste Green tickY Yes
Mariano López 3-1 Colón Green tickY Yes —
Julio Mendoza 6-2 Herrera Green tickY Yes
Raúl Pineda 8-6 Panamá Green tickY Yes —
Daniel Ramos 2-1 Coclé abstention
Benicio Robinson 1-1 Bocas del Toro — Green tickY Yes
Zulay Rodríguez 8-6 Panamá Red XN No
Jairo Salazar 3-1 Colón Green tickY Yes
Ricardo Santo 12-3 Ngäbe-Buglé Green tickY Yes —
Javier Sucre 8-8 Panamá —
Ricardo Torres 9-4 Veraguas Green tickY Yes
Jaime Vargas 5-2 Darién Green tickY Yes
Cenobia Vargas 8-10 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement
"Pancho" Alemán 8-6 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Corina Cano 8-7 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Miguel Fanovich 4-1 Chiriquí Green tickY Yes
Tito Rodríguez 8-9 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Manolo Ruiz 4-5 Chiriquí Green tickY Yes
Panameñista Party
Itzi Atencio 8-6 Panamá —
Luis Ernesto Carles 2-3 Coclé —
Everardo Concepción 4-2 Chiriquí Green tickY Yes
Bernardino González 2-4 Coclé Green tickY Yes
Hugo Méndez 4-1 Chiriquí Red XN No —
Yesenia Rodríguez 8-1 Panamá Oeste —
Pedro Torres 3-1 Colón Red XN No —
Elías Vigil 8-10 Panamá Red XN No —
Democratic Change
Yanibel Ábrego 8-2 Panamá Oeste Green tickY Yes
Fátima Agrazal 9-1 Veraguas Green tickY Yes
Rony Araúz 4-3 Chiriquí —
Leopoldo Archibold 12-1 Ngäbe-Buglé —
Génesis Arjona 8-9 Panamá —
Lilia Batista 8-5 Panamá Oeste —
Leopoldo Benedetti 3-1 Colón Green tickY Yes
Dalia Bernal 8-6 Panamá Green tickY Yes —
Alaín Cedeño 8-10 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Mayín Correa 8-8 Panamá —
Hernán Delgado 8-4 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Arnulfo Díaz 8-8 Panamá Green tickY Yes
Sergio Gálvez 8-7 Panamá —
Nelson Jackson 3-2 Colón Green tickY Yes —
Ana Giselle Rosas 4-6 Chiriquí —
Marylin Vallarino 8-1 Panamá Oeste Green tickY Yes
Edwin Zúñiga 8-10 Panamá —
Non-affiliated members
Adán Bejerano 12-2 Ngäbe-Buglé —
Edison Broce 8-8 Panamá Red XN No
Raúl Fernández 8-8 Panamá Red XN No
Gabriel Silva 8-7 Panamá Red XN No
Juan Diego Vásquez 8-6 Panamá Red XN No
Results of the vote by debate Green tickY 47 Green tickY 43
Red XN 9 Red XN 5
Source: Asamblea Nacional de Panamá

Timeline

[edit]
Seat of the National Assembly in Panama City, Panama

On 20 October 2023, the National Assembly approved in third debate a bill that would legalize the mining contract between the government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals, the operator of Cobre Panamá, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, located 20 minutes away from the western coast of Colon Province within a protected area related to the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.[16] The final vote was 42-5, with all but one of the present members from the governing parties PRD and MOLIRENA (as well as two members of the Panameñista Party and 7 members of the former president Ricardo Martinelli's supporting coalition of Democratic Change) voting in favour of the mining contract, and a total of five parliamentarians opposing it: Zulay Rodríguez (the only Red XN No vote from the PRD), and the non-affiliated members Edison Broce, Raúl Fernández, Gabriel Silva and Juan Diego Vásquez. Another four parliamentarians opposed the mining contract in the second debate, but were not present in the final vote.[18][44]

President Laurentino Cortizo signed the mining contract into law within 12 hours following the National Assembly vote, and it was published in the government gazette soon after.[43] Demonstrations started in Panama City and most major cities in the country following the announcement, as people learned from social media and online newspapers the corrupt process that took place prior to the approval of the mining contract and the dangerous impact of an open-pit mine on environment.

Supreme Court decision

[edit]

The 9 justices of Supreme Court of Justice, through a ruling announced on 28 November 2023,[49] unanimously declared the new mining contract as unconstitutional.[32][33] The Supreme Court of Justice released a 234-page document containing the arguments of the plaintiff,[50] the Administration Attorney,[51] and opinions from numerous lawyers in support or oppostion of the unconstitutionality of the mining contract between the Government of Panama and First Quantum Minerals.[52]

Even though the plaintiff and the Administration Attorney, Rigoberto González, initially argumented that the mining contract violated 8 articles of the Constitution of Panama,[53] the justices determined that it actually violated 25 articles.[54] The Supreme Court said that both the National Assembly and the administration of Laurentino Cortizo surpassed their authorities and infringed numerous preexisting regulations concerning mining, environmental and public procurement law, favoring the interests of First Quantum Minerals over the public opinion and explicitly avoided regulations concerning the negotiation of contracts involving natural resources.[49]

In total, the Supreme Court ruled that the mining contract violated 25 articles of the Constitution of Panama:[55] 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.[49] Therefore, the Supreme Court struck down again the mining contract and ordered the government to shut down the operations of Cobre Panamá.[56]

Unconstitutionality arguments

[edit]

The plaintiff lawyer, Juan Ramón Sevillano Callejas, presented the following arguments concerning the unconstitutionality of the mining contract:

The Administration Attorney, Rigoberto González, who is responsible for overseeing government ethics and representing it in legal procedures,[59] issued an opinion to the Supreme Court on 1 November 2023, requesting the judges to declare the mining contract as unconstitutional.[51] He sided with the plaintiff in his arguments and expanded them:

The 9 justices of the Supreme Court of Justice started a permanent session on 24 November 2023 to examine arguments of the plaintiff, Juan Ramón Sevillano Callejas, and the Administration Attorney, Rigoberto González; as well as 90 opinions of numerous lawyers and the public in support or opposition of the unconstitutionality of the mining contract.

Controversies

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Conflict of interest

[edit]

Reactions

[edit]

National

[edit]

International

[edit]

Governments

[edit]

Supranational organizations

[edit]

Environmental activists and others

[edit]

Aftermath

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Economía - Panamá: el transporte internacional pierde 200 millones de dólares al día por las protestas". France 24. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. ^ "¿Qué está pasando en Panamá? Las masivas protestas antimineras que tienen paralizado al país". France 24. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. ^ "Escuelas oficiales no cuentan con estructuras virtuales para continuar las clases". www.telemetro.com (in Spanish). 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. ^ Shaw, Alfie (2023-10-31). "Panama referendum on copper mining will not go ahead". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. ^ Muñoz-Ledo, Rocío (2023-11-13). "Minera Panamá anuncia reducción de operaciones por los bloqueos". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. ^ Press, Associated (2023-11-28). "Panama supreme court rules Canadian copper mine contract unconstitutional". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  7. ^ Romero, Fátima (2023-11-01). "¿Qué diputados votaron a favor y en contra del contrato minero en Panamá?". Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ^ "Morgan & Morgan y expresidente del CNA, a favor del contrato minero". www.critica.com.pa (in Spanish). 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ^ "Roux, Romulo - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. ^ "Royo, Aristides - Morgan & Morgan". Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  11. ^ "An ex-lawyer accused of shot two anti-mining protestors in Panama". The Independent. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  12. ^ "Un fotógrafo y activista herido en las protestas del jueves entró a la sala de operaciones". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  13. ^ "Fiscalía ordena arrestar a dos líderes de las protestas en Panamá por presunto vandalismo". SWI swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  14. ^ "Arrestos y protestas en la ciudad y provincias". www.critica.com.pa (in Spanish). 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  15. ^ "Cinco claves del por qué una gran mina en Panamá enfrenta un fallo que puede ser su fin". SWI swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  16. ^ a b c Zea, Mary Triny (2023-03-01). "El polémico giro del gobierno panameño para explotar minerales en zonas protegidas". Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  17. ^ Moreno, Elida (2023-10-20). "Panama's president gives final approval to major copper mine contract". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  18. ^ a b c "Panamá aprueba contrato con minera First Quantum Minerals – DW – 21/10/2023". dw.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  19. ^ "20 Razones para rechazar el nuevo Contrato con Minera Panamá". Colectivo Voces Ecológicas. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  20. ^ "Continúan las multitudinarias protestas en Panamá – DW – 27/10/2023". dw.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  21. ^ "¿Qué está pasando en Panamá? Las masivas protestas antimineras que tienen paralizado al país". France 24. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  22. ^ "Presidente de Panamá llama al diálogo ante protestas – DW – 28/10/2023". dw.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  23. ^ Ordóñez, Valeria (2023-10-24). "Pese a las protestas, el presidente de Panamá mantiene nuevo contrato de concesión minera". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  24. ^ Hilaire, Valentine; Moreno, Elida; Hilaire, Valentine (2023-10-30). "Panama president asks voters to decide on contentious First Quantum mining contract". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  25. ^ "Lo que debes saber sobre la viabilidad o no de la "consulta popular" del contrato minero". www.ecotvpanama.com (in Spanish). 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  26. ^ Barney, Luis Ernesto Quintana (2023-11-01). "Comisión legislativa aprueba proyecto de ley que busca derogar un polémico contrato minero en Panamá". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  27. ^ "Bajado a segundo debate proyecto 1110, excluirán artículo que deroga contrato minero". En Segundos Panama (in Spanish). 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  28. ^ "¿Derogación o Inconstitucionalidad? Pelea de opiniones jurídicas | Foco Panamá" (in Spanish). 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  29. ^ "Panamá: sancionan ley que frena futuras concesiones mineras metálicas pero siguen protestas". AP News (in Spanish). 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  30. ^ Muñoz-Ledo, Rocío (2023-11-13). "Minera Panamá anuncia reducción de operaciones por los bloqueos". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  31. ^ EFE \/ @panamaamerica, Ciudad de Panam\u00e1 \/ (2023-11-16). "Pescadores de Donoso se enfrentan con la Policía en el mar". Panamá América (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ a b Taylor, Luke (2023-11-28). "'Historic moment': Panama activists celebrate ruling against copper mine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  33. ^ a b "Panama's Supreme Court declares 20-year contract for Canadian copper mine unconstitutional". AP News. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ "Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá declara inconstitucional polémico contrato minero". Voz de América (in Spanish). 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  36. ^ Tiempo, Casa Editorial El (2023-11-28). "Minera canadiense revisará fallo panameño que declaró inconstitucional contrato minero". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  37. ^ Noticias, Redacción de TVN (2023-11-28). "Cortizo anuncia proceso de 'cierre ordenado y seguro de la mina', tan pronto reciba el fallo". Tvn Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  38. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Cuatro fallecidos han dejado las protestas contra la minería". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  39. ^ Oppmann, Patrick (2023-11-09). "Two demonstrators killed amid anti-mining protests in Panama". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ Millward, David (2023-11-08). "Chilling moment gunman kills two protesters blocking road in Panama". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  42. ^ Jewers, Chris (2023-11-08). "Motorist shoots dead two environmental protesters blocking a road". Mail Online. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  43. ^ a b "Gaceta Oficial - Ley 406 del 20 de octubre de 2023" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  44. ^ a b "Reporte de la sesión ordinaria (20 de octubre de 2023) - Votación: Tercer Debate al Proyecto de Ley No. 1100". Reportes de transparencia de la Asamblea Nacional de Panamá. 20 de octubre de 2023.
  45. ^ "Manuel Aizpurúa: 'Queremos firmar un acuerdo justo'". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  46. ^ "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. 26 de febrero de 1997.
  47. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Corte declara inconstitucional contrato de Minera Petaquilla". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  48. ^ "Gaceta Oficial No. 29439 del 22 de diciembre de 2021" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  49. ^ a b c "Fallo de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá, 27 de noviembre de 2023: Demanda de inconstitucionalidad, promovida por el Lic. Juan Ramón Sevillano Callejas, contra el artículo No. 1 de la Ley No. 406 del 20 de octubre de 2023" (PDF). La Prensa Panamá (fallo pendiente de publicación en Gaceta Oficial).
  50. ^ "ADMITEN DEMANDA DE INCONSTITUCIONALIDAD CONTRA EL ARTÍCULO 1 DE LA LEY 406 DE 20 DE OCTUBRE DE 2023". Órgano Judicial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  51. ^ a b Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Procurador de la Administración dice que contrato minero es inconstitucional". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  52. ^ "La Corte abre el periodo para presentar opiniones en demanda contra la Ley 406". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  53. ^ "AP EXPLICA: ¿Qué sigue después del fallo de inconstitucionalidad del contrato-ley minero en Panamá?". AP News (in Spanish). 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  54. ^ "AP EXPLICA: ¿Qué sigue después del fallo de inconstitucionalidad del contrato-ley minero en Panamá?". AP News (in Spanish). 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  55. ^ "Constitución Política de la República de Panamá (con índice temático)" (PDF). Procuraduría General de la Nación (Ministerio Público).
  56. ^ Juan Zamorano, Katia Martínez. "Panama's high court declares mining contract unconstitutional. Here is what happens next". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  57. ^ "Texto Único de la Ley 22 del 27 de junio de 2006, que regula la contratación pública" (PDF). Gaceta Oficial. 7 de septiembre de 2020.
  58. ^ "Decreto de Gabinete No. 267 del 21 de agosto de 1969: Por el cual se establece un régimen jurídico especial para el otorgamiento de concesiones mineras en la zona de yacimientos de Petaquilla, Botija y Río Medio" (PDF). Legispan de la Asamblea Legislativa de Panamá.
  59. ^ "Misión y Visión – Procuraduría de la Administración". www.procuraduria-admon.gob.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  60. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Harley Mitchell: El contrato entre el Estado y la minera viola la soberanía nacional". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
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