Panama America recently reported on the continued protesting in Colón, as farmers block the road to the Petaquilla Mine.
Farmers in the area are rallying for the closing of the mine, which they say is harming the environment. As a people who depends on the land and the water, the contamination puts their livelihood is at stake.
The Governor of the Province of Colón, Julio Kennión, has been in negotiations with the farmers, but to no avail. They say that they will not leave until the mine is closed down for good.
Managers from local plants have tried to appeal to government forces for help, but the farmers are not backing down. The group of protestors is made up of people from different farming communities, as well as local native people. For more than 5 years they have been protesting the mining project, because of the adverse affects on the environment.
Some workers on the inside, such as Rufo Lorenzo, who used to work as a security guard for the Petaquilla Mining Company claims that the company is in fact contaminating the river.
Various studies done by health and contamination organizations, the ANAM, MICI, the Office of the Ombudsman, and health authorities have revealed that there has been no damage to the environment, and that the company is compiling with the proper regulations.
Governors in Colón and Coclé are both unsure as to what to do to improve conditions and avoid any confrontations between employees of the mines and farmers. As of now, the issue has not been resolved.
