On Thursday May 8, a coalition of indigenous, environmental and community groups in the Panamanian province of Chiriquí blocked both lanes of the Panamerican Highway in protest of open-pit mining and dams. Of particular concern to locals are plans for dams along the Garcés, Gariché, Chiriquí Viejo and Escarria rivers, but the protesters were overtly opposed to all dams and strip mines.

Among the protesters were approximately 1,000 indigenous people, many of whom had walked for days while fasting in order to attend.

Rather than meeting with the protesters as they had requested, Chiriquí Governor Virgilio Vergara disptached riot police to violently attack and detain the unarmed demonstrators — including women, children and the elderly.

The director of the National Committee for the Defense of Land and Water (Coordinadora Nacional pro Defensa de Tierras y Aguas; CONADETIAGUAS) and an unknown number of indigenous people were arrested. As of May 9, they had not been allowed contact with anyone outside or informed of the charges against them.

CONADETIAGUAS has asked people to write letters of protest to Panamanian President Martín Torrijos (Presidencia de la República, Panamá 1, República de Panamá; (507) 527-9600 — NOTE: this is a Panamanian phone number; the country code is included]); the Minister of Government and Justice (despachosuperior@gobiernoyjusticia.go.pa) and the Director of the National Police.

No contact information for the Director of National Police was provided in CONADETIAGUAS’ press release, but the following is worth a shot:

zpchirig@cwp.net.pa
http://www.policia.gob.pa/miscelaneo/contact.html
http://www.policia.gob.pa/miscelaneo/central.html