Mining opponents heading for the streets

(PanamaNewsRoom) Stand by for more traffic jams in the next week, as the National Assembly gets down to to debating proposed changes to Panama;s mining regulations.

After days of public consultations on the changes came to an end last week. Dozens of groups presented their views but the Assembly is expected to fast track the changes, to expand mining opportunities in the country.

President Ricardom Martinelli has already voiced his support for changes, and many observers regarded the consultations as government window dressing for an issue that has already been decided.

Environmentalists and human rights organizations are opposed to the changes because of what they see as potential damage to the ecosystem and because many of the country's prime mineral deposits are on land inhabited by indigenous tribes. They are planning demonstrations.

Mining supporters claim potential economic benefits. Former Supreme Court Judge, Harley Mitchell, writing in La Prensa declared the changes uncosntiturional..
Félix Wing, executive director of the Centro de Incidencia Ambiental said that existing projects have already had a negative impact on the environment, and continued expansion could be potentially devastating.