RSAI stands in solidarity with Ngäbe communities in Panama

23.07.2024.- The Network of Solidarity and Indigenous Apostolate (RSAI, according to its Spanish acronym) of the Society of Jesus in Latin America and the Caribbean, together with other Catholic organizations and Christian networks, has published a statement of solidarity with the Ngäbe communities in Panama that are being violated by mining extractivism. From the Justice in Mining Network we want to share, in solidarity, this Declaration signed by networks and institutions that accompany the journey of the communities and have raised their voices denouncing this situation.

We have translated their statement into English and you can access the original statement in Spanish below.

 

Life first!

In view of the urgency of the Gospel (Jn 10:10) and the very serious situation of the native and peasant communities living in the territory of Minera Panama, the undersigned religious organizations and groups make a statement. 

Whereas: 

1. That, for several months, nine communities of Ngäbe majority, living in the area (for about 30 years), have been suffering discrimination, theft of their tools, harassment, pressures, threats, beatings, insults, burning of houses, deaths of children and adults; 
2. That this population lives in the area as if they were not Panamanians because they are prevented from free transit, conditioned to a permit, and they also have problems planting and working the land; 
3. That there are oral, visual and documentary testimonies about all these complaints, but -until now- there have been no measures to correct these situations. 
4. That there are strong suspicions that the deaths have been caused by water contamination and that it is necessary to find the real causes of this contamination; 
5. That it is our duty as Christians to defend the lives of the people above all else; 
6. That the contract of “minera Panama” was declared unconstitutional and the closing of this mine was ordered and, until now, few steps have been taken in this direction and, rather, problems continue to occur and increase; 

We declare:

1. “Our position is with the peasants and mother earth”, everything that goes against them, we have to reject it;
2. We demand an exhaustive investigation of the denounced facts and that punitive measures be taken;
3. We also demand that the right of these Panamanians to free transit in the territory be respected;
4. We also demand that the dismantling of the mine be initiated as soon as possible and that the actions of the “mining police” against the population be stopped as of now;
5. That a process of searching for economic, social, labor and ecological alternatives be initiated for the population of the area and the country, always in harmony with the integral development of the Common Home.
   

We hope to continue collaborating in the improvement of our land and social coexistence for the benefit of a more Christian Panama. 

Panama, July 16, 2024

Signed: Pastoral Social-Cáritasss, Justice and Peace Commission Panama, Ecological Ecclesial Network Mesoamerica Panama, Panamanian Confederation of Religious, National Indigenous Pastoral Coordinator, Churches and Mining Network Panama, Pastoral Center Red Vida.