Anti mining law protests enter third week

Protests and demonstrations against the government's reform to the mining codes in Panama have entered their third week, with no sign of easing.

President Ricardo Martinelli who signed the bill into law within a day of its third reading in the National Assembly, has rejected calls for its repeal.

There were protests in , Chiriquí and Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro over the weekend The protesters included indigenous groups, environmentalists and citizen organizations. {jathumbnail off}

In Panama City thousands carried their protests to the Cinta Costera on Sunday, February 21.
On Monday, students blocked sections of the Transistmica.
The protests have been held daily since Feb. 7, Indigenous groups have given the government a deadline of Friday, February 25 to repeal the measure, or they will call for mass demonstrations. 
The changes contained in the law are opposed by indigenous groups because they open up mining projects close to their communities and they fear that the environmental damage from the projects will permanently destroy their way of life.
The government says that mining could generate a large amount of revenue, especially from one of the world’s largest copper reserves in Cerro Colorado.
President Martinelli has said that the protests come from a minority of the population.
On Monday, the Panama Business Association called for continuing dialog.