First death in indigenous protests as government cracks down

The first death among indigenous protestors in Chiriqui was recorded Sunday as Panama’s government moved from dialogue to crack down over road closures by Ngabe Bugle.

As business and church leaders joined human rights bodies in calling for peaceful resolution of the Indian’s concerns over mining projects and hydro electric plants in their homelands, hundreds of heavily armed riot police, accompanied by ambulances moved out of Panama City towards San Felix Chiriqui where protestors have been blocking the Trans America highway for six days, protesting what they see as broken promises over mining development made by the administration.

Memories of the early days of the Arab Spring were aroused as prior to the police move cell phone communication to the area was cut and government press releases started to flow. The government  claimed that communications towers had been sabotaged, but the supplying company said the service was withdrawn on government orders.

Sinaproc, the civil defense agency,  had earlier moved many residents and visotrs out of the area, leaving  the area free for combatants.

As the riot police in military style battle fatigues moved in with tear gas, guns and and bulldozers to remove barricades, injuries among the protestors began to climb. Police were seen throwing tear gas grenades into buildings and onto roofs. The grenades are not intended for inside use. Last year six young prisoners died after grenades were thrown into a cell, which caught fire.

Protestors respodded by throwing stones. One, likeDavid against Goliath was shown using a catapult.

Later government helicopters landed near the village of San Felix, and police moved into houses and surrounding areas, and into an emergency medical center where they arrested injured personnel

While one TV network was giving non stop live coverage of ongoing events showing in depth lines of police firing gas grenades and rifles, Justice Minister, spoke with TVN, claiming that the roads were now open He complained that TVN was showing outdated footage of blocked roads, but got an angry response from a TVN commentator who said the government had withdrawn the right to film from a helicopter. “If you want us to help you, you have to help us” she said. Meanwhile images of the confrontation were appearing on television around the world  including signs posted by the Martinelli administration after his election: “It’s now the turn of the people.”

The unfavorable images of Panama led Chamber of Commerce president Federico Humbert to call  for tolerance and dialogue. “This is not helping us internationally” and as the violent confrontation continued, said it was a crime against the  image of the country which had been portrayed around the world as a peaceful oasis in the region. Its reputation as a place to invest was being destroyed. Egos, he said had to be put aside. “The government has a duty to bring peace through dialogue.

Idalia  Martinez of the Movement for Freedom Justice and Liberty,  asked human rights groups around the world to call for international mediators.

Meanwhile Indiginous leaders have called for support across the country and  protesters from the Ngobe-Bugle tribe have manned roadblocks of stones and branches set up on raods leading to and in Verguas

A tribal spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday that the protesters will not negotiate directly with the government but want discussions with the country's Legislative Assembly which  has taken initial steps toward lifting a mining moratorium in the region where many of the tribe's members live.