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Lands, Resources, and Environments

Stop Human Rights and Environmental Abuses in Panama

Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal
Presidente de la Republica
Presidencia de la Republica
Panama 1,
Republica de Panama
Fax +(507) 527-9034
Email: prensa@presidencia.gob.pa

Dear Sr. Presidente,

As an advocate for human rights and environmental protection in my own country and around the world, I am pleased and relieved that the Panama government has revoked Law 30 and negotiated new laws through a process of dialogue following the July protests. These actions are exemplary, and they encourage me to request that you take further steps to redress the grievances of Panama's Indigenous Peoples.

Specifically, I urge you to revoke Law No. 14, which criminalizes non-violent acts of protest, and Executive Decree No. 537, which restricts the right of Indigenous Peoples to choose their own leaders. The executive decree violates the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which (to your credit) Panama has endorsed. The Ngobe people expressed their disapproval of the executive decree by refusing to vote in the government-sponsored election of Ngobe representatives on Oct. 24. Human Rights Everywhere reported serious human rights violations in the conduct of the government-imposed election. I am very concerned that the Panama government would appear to intervene in the selection of Ngobe leaders who will make decisions about mining, dams, tourist resorts, and other development projects that will have enormous impacts on the Ngobe people and their lands. To restore confidence, Executive Decree No. 537 must be revoked.

Thank you for taking appropriate actions to address these concerns.

Sincerely,

Campaign Update – Panama: Panama Government and Ngöbe Agree to Dialogue

Date: 02/08/2012

Sincere thanks to everyone who sent urgent email messages to Panama’s president this week!

Late Tuesday afternoon, Ngöbe leaders and government officials reached an agreement that put an end to protests that left two people dead and dozens of others injured.

Campaign Update - Bangladesh: New report evaluates GCM's Indigenous Peoples Plan

Date: 02/07/2012

International Accountability Project published a critical analysis of GCM's Indigenous Peoples Development Plan for the Phulbari Coal Project.

2012: Does the Mayan Calendar Predict the End of the World?

Date: 01/30/2012

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Brazil’s Indian Agency Approves Return of 146,000 hectares to Xavante People

Date: 01/22/2012
Rio das Mortes with Wedezé Mountain, Brazil.

In December, Brazil’s Indian Agency (Fundação Nacional do Índio) approved delimitation of the 146,000 hectare Wedezé Indigenous Reserve in the state of Mato Grosso.

Campaign Victory – Papua New Guinea: Legislature Revokes Amendments to Environmental Law

Date: 01/20/2012

On January 19, Minister for Environment in the O’Neil-Namah Government, Hon Thompson Haroquave, carried through on his promise to the people of Papua New Guinea and ensured that Parliament repealed amendments to the Environment Act that had been made in favor of the Chinese mining company, MCC. The amendments had prohibited landowners from suing for damages to their property or their livelihoods, if these were negatively affected by MCC’s dumping of mine waste into the Bismarck Sea. The repeal of the amendments reinstates landowners’ right to sue for such damages. Tiffany Twivvey, lawyer for the Rai Coast landowners who unsuccessfully tried to block the ocean dumping via the courts, celebrated the news by posting a message to Mr.

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