Mining: They demand compliance with the court ruling and reopening of the roads

Businessmen, politicians and various sectors reacted after learning about the verdict Supreme Court of Justice which declared unconstitutional Law 406 of October 20, 2023, which approved the contract between the State of Panama and the company Minera Panamá, SA

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) believes that the Supreme Court acted in a timely manner by passing a judgment on the unconstitutionality of Law 406, weighing the national well-being according to the situation in which the country finds itself.

“Judges of the Supreme Court of Justice respected procedural times and took into account the need to act immediately, in accordance with the law, taking into account the noise of the population” said Adolfo Fábrega, president of the union.

“We are invited to accept this ruling as it represents the position of our highest judicial body and to prepare in this sense in an agreed and technical way for the next steps regarding the operation of the mine, which includes the orderly closure of the mine itself, because the vast majority of the Panamanian population demanded that Panama be a country without open-pit metal mining,” the business leader said.

Meanwhile, the candidate for Vice President of the Party of Alliance and Achievement of Goals, José Raúl Mulino believes that the unanimity at the Plenary session on this decision is a very clear message. The national request has been heard, Mulino said.

For the politician and former minister, the verdict of the Supreme Court should mark a new national stage. “For now, open the public roads and get back to normal,” he said.

“This is a victory for the Panamanian people in the streets, who kept the faith and fought until the end. Now we must remain vigilant, demand that the government initiate the orderly closure of the mines and remain alert to possible retaliatory measures by Cobra Panamá”; added the independent presidential candidate, Zulay Rodríguez.

“Democracy worked, the complete independence of the judiciary was demonstrated as established by our political constitution and reaffirmed in this historic and unanimous decision of the judiciary,” said the ombudsman, Eduardo Leblanc González.

Leblanc González called on the movements to open roads, return to education, work and communities, as well as to recover the economy.

“The times that are ahead of us are not easy, and we must move towards full recovery and reconciliation in a harmonious and sensitive way,” said the Ombudsman.

After approximately 37 days of strong mobilization in the streets, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) of Panama declared unconstitutional Contract Law 406 of October 20, 2023, which adopts the contract between of the Panamanian state and the company Minera Panamá, SA

Based on this verdict, the protestors must open communication lines, enable free transit, and restore the social peace necessary for the continuation of the citizens’ daily activities, said the president of CCIAP.

The business community demands that the President of the Republic, the Minister of Security and the Minister of the Government fulfill their constitutional responsibility and guarantee civil liberties to all of us who live in the state territory.