The measure was in response to strong protests by the groups that make up the “Pueblo Unido por la Vida” alliance, that gathered in the vicinity of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) to deliver a note to the head of that portfolio, Jorge Rivera.

In statements to Prensa Latina, one of the spokespersons of the alliance, Jorge Guzman said that upon being received by the official, they reiterated their rejection of the fact that, in the first tour of the copper deposit in Donoso, Colon, members of those groups were excluded.

It is the struggle in the streets of the organized people, Guzman said, which in October and November forced the Supreme Court of Justice to declare unconstitutional the contract signed by the Executive with the subsidiary of the Canadian First Quantum Transnational, and now it is compelled to present a plan for the preservation and safe management of the mine.

We further indicated to the Minister that although the Government has the mechanisms and institutions to enforce the law, we will not admit new technical visits without the participation of the real protagonists of this conquest in defense of sovereignty.

We prefer this type of solution to taking to the streets again and entering into this new challenge for the Panamanian popular forces that reject metallic mining, he remarked.

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