Moments of Tension During the Signing of the Barro Blanco Agreement

Monday August 22, 2016, president Juan Carlos Varela and Indigenous leaders from Ngabe Bugle Comarca signed an agreement on the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project that aims to put a end to a fight that has lasted years.

During the signing of the new Barro Blanco agreement a small yet violent protest took place. According the president, only about 12 indigenous people were involved. President Varela explained that this small minority always has been against the dialogue, they are not on the Government-Comarca dialogue board, nor are they part of the legal Political structure of the Comarca.

The small group of protesters, mostly young males acted violently, throwing stones at the outdoor table where the president was ending his discourse. According to his report, kids were told to join in and throw stones. As the stone throwing continued, the first to be removed from the public places the Cacique Silvia Carrera. The next person to be removed was Vice-President Isabel Saint Malo, and later the rest of the Comarca authorities.

The President Juan Carlos Varela, took to the crowd to address the violent behaviour. Below is the translated transcription TVN's video of the president's plea.

"The authority should be respected, not only my authority as president, but the authority of the caciques were chosen democratically.”

"What you are teaching children, to throw stones at a deputy commissioner, is not right.”

“Listen! I am talking! When I finish you speak, ok?”

“You have wounded four policemen.”

Read the terms of the agreement here: Government and Ngabe Bugle sign agreement for Barro Blanco

See below for the TVN video of Juan Carlos Varela addressing the Barro Blanco agreement signing incident