Agreement of San Lorenzo signed!
An agreement was reached last night, 8 February 2012, just after 6:00 pm, between the Panamanian government and the Ngäbe Bugle people that ended protests in Panama. The leadership of the Ngäbe Bugle people warned that protests will resume if the agreement is not honored but expressed optimism.
Our people on the ground tell us that the road blocks around Changinola and Almirante have been cleared and the roads are in good condition. Caribe Shuttle began operating its normal schedule today. The special temporary boat service between Bocas del Toro and Puerto Viejo is suspended.
Panama-Guide posted the following report from Prensa about the agreement:
Dialogue ends 7 days of anxiety
At 6:15 pm yesterday afternoon, with the signature of the general chieftain, Silvia Carrera, the agreement of San Lorenzo ended the anxiety of the Ngäbe Bugle people on the item they required to be included in the special law on mining. Prior to the signing, and behind closed doors, applause could be heard coming from the classroom of the Manuel Tapiero Miranda Technical Vocational Institute, located in San Lorenzo. With a “Hallelujah!” the bishop of the diocese of David, Jose Luis Lacunza, opened a press conference in which he revealed to the country the ten points contained in the agreement.
After seven days of protests, road closures, and even violent days that left two dead, it was agreed that the National Assembly will give urgent attention – starting today – to the notoriously thorny Bill 415 to discuss Article 5, which prohibits mining and hydroelectric projects in the traditional territories (comarca) of the Ngäbe Bugle people. It was also agreed that the Ngäbe Bugle people would cease their protests, that the riot control police would withdrawal from the area, that cellular telephone communications would be restored, that the protesters who had been arrested would be released, and the family members of Jerome Rodriguez Tugrí, who was killed in the protests, would receive compensation. It was also agreed that the complaints filed in the Public Ministry related to recent events would be withdrawn, and that human rights organizations would be asked to conduct a thorough investigation of what happened.
The Catholic Church will continue in their role as a mediator and guarantor in the process of dialogue, with members of the Evangelical Church participating as observers, and as rapporteur the United Nations and the rector of the University of Panama.
Warning – After reading the agreement, the chieftain Carrera thanked Lacunza and said she believed this time the agreement will be fulfilled, and they would not see a repeat of what happened last year. “Our people had to be suppressed in order to enter into this dialogue … I hope (the government) will fulfill what is agreed here in this document; I’m going to sign it, but I hope we will not have to be closing roads in the following days, because people have told me that we do not want hydroelectric projects and we do not want mines.”
For his part, the Minister of the Presidency, who led the official delegation of the dialog, said: “We mourn the death of a Panamanian as was Jeronimo Rodriguez Tugrí. The national government will take all measures to compensate the family … something that is very difficult to do when a parent dies, as was Mr. Rodriguez (…) we are willing to speak to the Coordinator, with the chieftain and the monsignor. ”
“My gratitude to everyone who composed the table,” said Lacunza.
The Indigenous leaders posted on the side of the Pan-American highway reacted with cheers when listening to their leaders, while the business sector expressed the importance that the entire society learn the lesson of resolving conflicts through dialogue. (Prensa)
