Indian Protest is a "Whim That Does Not Make Sense" - Quijano

Panama's Minister of Trade and Industry Ricardo Quijano said today, Thursday, 2 February 2012, that the protest being held by the indigenous Indians from the Comarca Ngäbe Buglé, in Chiriquí "is a whim that does not make sense." Quijano said the protest action of the Indians, who are opposed to mineral exploration and water, has no "justification" at all. He added that the background is "100% political." Public Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino, also said yesterday that this protest has a political background, and for this reason, the National Police did not intervene to prevent the demonstrations or to reopen the busy Inter American Highway. Yesterday marked the third day of the protest, leaving a toll of economic losses exceeding $1.5 million dollars, according to estimates by the National Chamber of Cargo. Quijano called for the protesters to be aware of the harm they are doing to the country and not just to the people who use the highway. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Now it's coming out that there's really two (or more) "leaders" of the Ngäbe Buglé indigenous Indians. Apparently this group that's protesting does not actually represent the vast majority, and they are a relatively small minority that has been paid by political operatives from either the PRD or the Panameñista opposition political parties to create problems for the administration of Ricardo Martinelli. I saw an interview with two of the leaders of this protest on channel 2 TVN this morning, and they blew it. They said they are not only representing the Ngäbe Buglé people, but rather they consider themselves to be Panamanians first, and they don't think mining should be allowed anywhere in the country. When the interviewer asked them why they have included mining activities that are not located within the Ngäbe Buglé comarca in their list of demands, they said they consider those to by "annexes" of their lands. And they also talked about water and environmental issues. In short, this protest has nothing to do with mining on Ngäbe Buglé lands, which is not happening. Their excuse was this phantom Article 5 issue. Their real motivation is money - they have gotten paid to be there. And this time the administration of Ricardo Martinelli is not taking the bait. These guys are nothing but trolls who are trying to provoke a confrontation, and they do not represent the majority of the Ngäbe Buglé people.