Ngobe Congreso Rejects Colorado and Chorcha Mines!

Defiance Through Dance: Ngöbe and Naso Representatives Perform Cultural Rituals in Panama City

The following are photos of a Ngöbe and Naso cultural performance in Panama City on October 11. The event honored the rich identities of both communities, identities that are threatened by mining projects such as Dominion Minerals' Cerro Chorcha mine and hydroelectric projects like that of AES' Changuinola River development.

Forum on Indigenous Rights in Panama Condemns Mining, Hydroelectric, and Residential Tourism Ventures

Everyone pays attention when Yaritza Espinoza talks. Her small, wiry frame belies a strong, passionate voice when she speaks about the hundreds of mines, hydroelectric dams, and tourist resorts that are being planned for Panama's indigenous regions. Yaritza, a university student and a member of an environmental group called Voces Ecológicas (Ecological Voices), spoke to a over 100 indigenous activists, students, and supporters at the University of Panama on October 10. The diverse group listened attentively as Yaritza explained that this impending wave of projects will lead to a surge of internally-displaced people. Whole villages all over the country will be forced from their lands by mining activities, flooding from dams, and tourist development. These internal migrants, Yaritza warned, will affect the entire country as they attempt to find shelter and new employment. She closed her presentation by showing a map of all of the proposed mining concessions, and asked the audience if their homes were located near any of the small, colored boxes on the map. Many in the audience responded with anger and concern that yes, they lived close to these concessions. Yaritza explained that over 200,000 hectares have been granted for mining concessions, and, even more shocking, that 90% of Panama's waters have been concessioned for hydroelectric power.

Map courtesy of Centro de Incidencia Ambiental (www.ciampanama.org)

Yaritza was just one of nearly two dozen speakers at this forum on indigenous rights, convened by the Ngäbe Student Association at the University of Panama. The forum highlighted the concerns of Panama's indigenous communities about the wave of projects, including Dominion Minerals' Cerro Chorcha Mine, that threaten their lands and livelihoods.

Marchers Arrive in Panama City

After walking 380 kilometers in 19 days, the marchers of the Indigenous, Campesino, and Popular Movement will finally arrive in Panama City today, bringing the voices of the people to the seat of power. Participants will be holding events in the capital all week long to call for an end to the environmental destruction that has been waged on their communities by the government and mining companies like Dominion Minerals.

Follow all the news on a new photo gallery: www.caminatapanama.org (in Spanish only)

Hasta el palacio del Presidente ' "No a la Mina Cerro Chorcha"

"Nuestra tierra no se vende!"

En la tierra de Victoriano - Articulo de Prensa sobre la Caminata Contra la Mina

29 Sep 2009 9:59 AM Nota publicada en el diario panameño La Estrella

Indígenas llegan a tierra coclesana

LINETH TORRERO
periodistas@laestrella.com.pa

La marcha se encuentra en Antón, donde se quedarán hasta mañana, para luego emprender camino a San Carlos

COCLÉ. Alrededor de 70 indígenas y campesinos que iniciaron la marcha hacia la capital desde el pasado 15 de septiembre, cuando salieron de Bocas del Toro y Chiriquí, para protestar contra hidroeléctricas y minería en sus comarcas.

El pasado sábado fueron recibidos en la provincia de Coclé.

Los indígenas de distintas comarcas luchan porque se respete el derecho a la salud, situación que según ellos se está complicando con el inicio de las actividades mineras y los daños a las cuencas que utilizan para sus necesidades con la colocación de hidroeléctricas.

Gritando consignas en rechazo a estas actividades y recordando la lucha de Victoriano Lorenzo, los indígenas descansaron la primera noche en la casa de la Cultura de Río Grande y la segunda en el gimnasio Algis Moreno de Penonomé, para posteriormente instalarse ayer lunes en la Casa del Campesino de la Parroquia de Antón donde permanecerán por dos días antes de continuar rumbo a San Carlos.

Federico Molina, comisionado de la Comarca Ñucribo de Guaribiora de Bocas del Toro, señala que la Comarca Ñucribo rechaza la construcción de hidroeléctricas y la minería, cuyos efectos los vienen sintiendo desde el 4 de septiembre del 2008, cuando les construyeron un pozo de 300 metros de profundidad para lavar minerales extraídos de la minería, pero este se derrumbó lo que contaminó el río. Ellos desconocían el efecto que esas concesiones mineras les produciría hasta que observaron la muerte de peces, animales y hasta de cinco personas incluyendo tres niños que utilizaban el agua del río, destacó. Los indígenas utilizan los ríos para lavar, bañarse y tomar agua.

Ngöbe Protesters March to Capital City

Last week several dozen Ngöbe protesters set off from their villages in western Panama to Panama City to call attention to their message of environmentally and socially responsible development. The Ngöbe are facing many challenges to their way of life and right of self-determination from irresponsible open-pit mining ventures, hydroelectric projects, and large-scale tourist projects. Ngöbe leaders say that many of these ventures, including the Cerro Chorcha mine, are illegal and were approved in violation of laws requiring the informed consent of local communities and environmental impact assessments. The activists say that they want development that benefits their communities, protects the environment, and respects the rights of Panama's indigenous peoples.

The marchers will arrive in Panama City on October 6, kicking off a week of events to raise awareness about issues affecting the Ngöbe. The events will culminate in a march to the presidential palace on October 12.

More on the march: http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_15/issue_15/news_07.html

Remembering the Flood of September 3, 2008

Residents of Besikö, in the Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca in western Panama, are accustomed to living with the seasonal rains that come every year from May through November, but last September's sudden inundation caught everyone by surprise. On the evening of September 3rd, 2008, as families were settling down for the night, villagers along the Fonseca River were startled to see water entering their homes and spreading through their fields. In the darkness and the rain, hundreds of people gathered their children, animals, and few valuables and climbed into the trees to escape the rising river. Clinging to the trees in the night, they wondered what would be left of their homes and livestock when day came and the waters receded.

The morning light revealed a landscape of destruction. Dozens of homes had collapsed or washed away. Giant tree trunks and other debris rested far inland where the high water had deposited them. The bodies of drowned cattle, horses, and other domestic animals lay on the banks of the river. And worst of all, several people were missing. Local leaders organized search parties to look for the victims while others began the difficult task of clearing debris and relocating the now-homeless families. The final death toll included 6 people and countless farm animals.

A year later, dozens of families remain homeless and landless, squatting in shelters made of scraps of tin and plastic tarps on a narrow strip of land between the river and the main road. The government prohibited the displaced families from returning to the low-lying land where they were living citing flooding concerns, but the officials have failed to follow through on promises to allocate new land to the victims. The families continue to live a precarious existence without adequate housing, proper sanitary or cooking facilities, or land for growing food.

The September 3rd flood reveals just how vulnerable the Ngöbe are to any natural or man-made events that upset the delicate balance of the fragile tropical mountain ecosystem in which they live. Scientists predict that global warming will increase the frequency of extreme rainfall events in Panama. Open-pit mines like those proposed by Dominion Minerals will destabilize steep mountain slopes and accelerate soil erosion, subjecting downslope communities to constant threat of landslides, flooding, and water siltation. Should Dominion's plans for Cerro Chorcha proceed as planned, the combined impacts of heavy rainfall and destabilized mountainsides will spell disaster for the Ngöbe.

Out of the flood waters has risen a new determination in Besikö to do everything possible to prevent another September 3rd. The community strongly opposes Dominion Minerals and the Cerro Chorcha mining project, which has become synonymous for environmental devastation. At a recent event protesting the mine, one high school student expressed the views of many, saying, "It is important to protect nature for future generations. If we fail to defend nature, we fail coming generations. We say yes to life, no to destruction by mining!"

The community held a mass on September 3, 2009 to remember the victims of the flooding one year ago.

Residents make a pilgrimage across the Fonseca River to commemorate last year's flooding.

In Solidarity with the Ngobe of Charco la Pava

We have been following the situation of the Ngobe community of Charco la Pava, where a huge American-sponsored hydroelectric project is under way. The American company AES is operating in violation of the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights' decision calling on Panama to halt construction. The Panamanian government rejected the decision and the project continues. Local residents report that they are being threatened and intimidated by Panamanian police.

For those of us who are struggling against Dominion Minerals' illegal mining concession, the Panamanian government's refusal to abide by the Human Rights Commissions' decision is emblematic of our own challenges in calling the government to account for its betrayal of the Ngobe people. We stand in solidarity with the people of Charco la Pava as they fight to defend their land and livelihoods.

More information on the situation on Charco la Pava:
Cultural Survival's Ngobe Campaign
Panama Does Not Intend to Suspend Dam Construction on Ngobe Lands

Stories from Cerro Chorcha: Ngöbe Environmentalists Investigate Dominion Minerals' Cerro Chorcha Mining Concession

On June 5th and 6th, 40 Ngöbe representatives from many different communities met at the site of Dominion Minerals' proposed Cerro Chorcha mine to peacefully protest the company's illegal operations in our territory.

The community of Jaramillo lies within the boundary of Dominion's mining concession on the southern side of the Cordillera Central. This is one-room schoolhouse serves the area's approximately 25 families.

As we hiked through the mining concession, we passed through an area of fallen trees and dying vegetation.  It appears that an herbicide has been used to clear plant matter, possibly to prepare the site for new test drills or construction.

In this photo, a leader of the Ngöbe General Congress explains that this tree's roots have weakened and lost their grip on the soil, causing it to topple over.  As all the trees on the side of the mountain die and fall over, the soil will become unstable and prone to landslides.

After climbing the central mountain range, we reached Dominion Minerals' mining camp, which lies just over the continental divide on the north side of the comarca, at the headwaters of the Guariviara River. 

The mountaintops that Dominion proposes to turn into an open-pit copper mine are sacred to us as the mythological burial ground of powerful Ngöbe spirits.  Because of this, it is highly offensive to us that foreigners want to destroy these important cultural sites.  An appropriate analogy would be if a foreign company were to build a mine on top of the Vietnam Memorial.

As we hiked to the camp, we crossed the Guariviara River and could see traces of copper and gold in the cliffs and rocks along the trail.  The Guariviara is one of the major rivers on the northern side of the comarca, providing water for thousands of Ngöbe families.

We reached the camp and expressed our desire that Domion Minerals leave the comarca, and that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) revoke the mining concession.  The Ngöbe General Congress, the comarca's highest authority, rejected the company's request for permission to operate in the comarca, but MICI ignored our community's decision and granted the concession anyway in 2006.  Dominion claims to have the support of the Ngöbe people, but in reality, it has only the signatures of a few people who are not authorized to speak on our behalf, and who have received payments from the company.

We toured some of the new drill sites and found a variety of equipment awaiting the next stage of exploration.

A water pump

Base frame for drilling equipment

Two drilling platforms

In addition to violating our established decision-making process, MICI accepted Dominion's initial concession application without the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).  Dominion proceeded to carry out 11 test drills, which Panama's environmental agency, ANAM, has declared illegal.

In December 2008, Dominion submitted an EIA to ANAM for 26 additional test drills.  This EIA was rejected in March of 2009.  We await Dominion's new EIA and ANAM's response.

en camina a Cerro Chorcha - Celio Guerra

No más abuso nuestro pueblo.

¡Fuera Dominion Minerals!

Indigenous Ngöbes defend their lands

The following article appeared in La Estrella Panamá on June 15, 2009.

La Estrella - 15 de junio 2009
ZELODETH CORTEZ periodistas@laestrella.com.pa

Dominion Minerals Corp. expects to drill 26 new test holes in indigenous territory

Ngöbe Buglé Comarca. Indigenous groups in the Ngöbe Buglé Comarca report that a large area of destroyed forest, landslides, and a lack of native fauna characterize the intended area of operation near the Dominion Minerals mining camp.

Forty indigenous delegates from various locations in the comarca participated in a 3-day tour of the Chorcha Mining Project, located in Guariviara in the district of Kankintú. The groups were accompanied by Father Joseph Fitzgerald, from the Catholic Church of Soloy, and Marian Thorpe, an environmental student from Yale University in the United States.

At the camp, the indigenous groups found sites ready for the next drilling stage, which includes Dominion Minerals’ expected 26 new test holes. According to the camp caretakers, the drilling equipment arrived 5 months ago, but the company then removed the equipment 2 months ago. Still remaining on site are 2 water pumps for drilling, 3 wooden platforms, a metal platform, and some 500 wooden boxes for transporting ore.

Original article in Spanish: Indígenas ngöbes defienden tierras

Indígenas ngöbes defienden tierras

La Estrella - 15 de junio 2009
ZELODETH CORTEZ periodistas@laestrella.com.pa

Unas 26 perforaciones pretende realizar la empresa Dominion Minerals Corp., en el sector indígena

Provincia COMARCA NGÖBE BUGLÉ. La gran cantidad de área boscosa destruida, derrumbes y poca presencia de fauna nativa en el área cercana al campamento minero que desea explotar la empresa Minerals Corp, fue el resultado de un informe presentado por grupos indígenas de la Comarca Ngöbe Buglé.

En la gira de tres días al campamento donde se localiza el Proyecto Minero de Chorcha, en Guariviara, Distrito de Kankintú, participaron 40 delegaciones de diversos puntos de la comarca, quienes estuvieron acompañados por el sacerdote José Fitzgerald, de la Iglesia Católica de Soloy y la estudiante de Medio Ambiente de la Universidad de Yale (EEUU), Mariana Thorpe.

En el campamento, los grupos indígenas encontraron sitios preparados para la nueva etapa, que incluyen las 26 perforaciones que pretende realizar la empresa Dominion Minerals Corp., pero quienes cuidar el campamento la maquinaria llegó hace 5 meses, y la empresa la sacó hace dos, pero todavía quedan dos bombas de agua para las perforaciones, tres rampla de madera, una rampla de hierro, y unas 500 cajas de madera para transportar los minerales.

Publicacion original "Indigenas Ngobe Defienden Tierras"

Investors take note of Dominion Minerals' troubles

Dominion Minerals' illegal operations at Cerro Chorcha are a bad bet for investors, and people are starting to take notice.  We found the following comment on the popular online investor website, Stockhouse.com.

Inversionistas están empezando de darse cuenta de que las operaciones ilegales de Dominion Minerals en Cerro Chorcha son una mala inversión.  Encontramos el siguiente comentario en el sitio web Stockhouse.com. 

Dominion Minerals Corp: project will be cancelled

International spotlight on the Cerro Chorcha controversy

The Cerro Chorcha controversy has won attention from international news sources.  Check out the recent coverage (in Spanish).

La controversia Cerro Chorcha ha ganado la atención de unos medios de prensa internacionales. Revíse la coberatura reciente (en español). 

Univisión

Indígenas panameños rechazan proyecto minero

Indymedia.org

Indígenas panameños rechazan proyecto minero

La Estrella Panamá

Rechazan explotación minera en Chorcha

La Prensa

Continúa movilización de indígenas

Telemetro

Indígenas panameños rechazan proyecto minero

Burica Press

Grupos Ngobes desafían a Minera introducida en su Comarca

No More Abuse from Dominion Minerals! We have a right to life and peace!

June 3, 2009-06-11

Communication to the Media and Panamanian People
from the Ngöbe solidarity Groups against the Cerro Chorcha Mine.

We wish to advise the country and the media that we have important information about the illegal Cerro Chorcha mining project on the indigenous Ngöbe Comarca. Dominion Minerals Corp. announced, through a letter to Shareholders dated June 2, 2009, that all “preparation has been make and the drill are on site” to begin 26 new exploration site. We completely reject the Cerro Chorcha mine project and the actions of Dominion Minerals Corp, and the Panamanian Government that violate our rights as indigenous people are our patrimony.

In light of this information, various delegations from Ngöbe communities and Ngöbe solidarity groups will arrive at the illegal Cerro Chorcha mining site on June 5, 2009 – the International Day for the Environment.

We will go to the mining camp from various communities of the Comarca, from both sides of the Continental divide. Many of us will walk 2 or 3 days to be present at this act of solidarity against the Cerro Chorcha project.

Our non-violent presence on the site of the mining destruction petitions:

* The immediate leaving of Dominion Minerals (USA) from the Ngöbe Comarca and a stop to the abuses of the Ngöbe people.

* The immediate cancellation of the Metallic Exploration Concession #6 of 2006
(Cerro Chorcha) by the Minister of Commerce and industry, Gilela Alvarez de
Porres.

_______________________________________

We here provide several important aspects of the illegal mining activity on Cerro Chorcha:

- The current concession is 242 square kilometers within the indigenous Ngöbe Comarca, and the environmentally protected areas of Palo Seco Reserve and Fortuna Forrest Reserve. The Company has petitioned to extend the area of the concession.

- The Company received the exploration concession from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI), signed by Manuel Jose Paredes, who appeared as CEO of Dominion Minerals in February 2009, two months after resigning from his position with the government. (Corruption!). MICI approved the concession with no Environmental Impact Study (EIS)

- The “permission” from the Ngöbe Comarca that Dominion Minerals Corp. is working under is illegal, as the Ngöbe General Congress is responsible for such decision and has always rejected open-pit mining within the Comarca. The company has bought the illegal signature of those who do not have the legal nor moral right to speak for us as Ngöbe.

- In December 2008, the company presented an Environmental Impact Study for the 26 new drill sights, which the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment rejected on March 9, 2009, sighting many factors including:
- Lack of a program of sharing information with the Ngöbe communities
- Lack of participation of the Ngöbe in the decision process
- Dominion Minerals’ illegal 11 drill sights in 2007 (no EIS, no valid permission from the
Comarca)
- Previous environmental damage (contamination of the Guariviara River, change in plant
color, land slides due to mining activity) and the failure to present methods to prevent
future damage.

In spite of all this, Pini Althaus, acting CEO of Dominion Minerals Corp announced to shareholders on June 2, 2009 that the sites are prepared and the drills are in place.

We are emphatic is stating that we are going to the illegal mining sight in a peaceful manner and reject any act of violence.

YES TO LIFE! NO TO THE MINE!
The Ngöbe Solidarity Groups Against the Cerro Chorcha Mine

Comunicado a la Prensa y el Pueblo Panameno de los Grupos Ngobes Solidarios contra la Mina Cerro Chorcha

3 de junio 2008

Comunicado a la Prensa y el Pueblo Panameño
de los Grupos Ngöbe Solidarios contra la Mina Cerro Chorcha

Queremos dar a conocer al país y a los medios de comunicación que tenemos información importante sobre el ilegal proyecto minero Cerro Chorcha, Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle. Dominion Minerals, Corp. anunció, a través de un comunicado publico el día 2 de junio 2009, que toda su maquinaria está en el lugar para realizar 26 nuevas perforaciones. Rechazamos rotundamente el proyecto minero Cerro Chorcha y las acciones de Dominion Minerals, Corp. y el Estado que violan nuestros derechos como pueblos indígenas y nuestro patrimonio.

En vista a de los conocimientos, varias delegaciones de los grupos Ngöbe solidarios estaremos en el sitio ilegal de exploración minera en Cerro Chorcha, corregimiento de Guariviara, Distrito de Kankintú, Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle el 5 de junio de 2009.

Las delegaciones iremos al campamento minero procedentes de varias comunidades de la Comarca, a ambos lados de la Corrillera central. Muchos caminaremos 2 o 3 días para estar presentes en este acto solidario contra la Mina Cerro Chorcha.

Nuestra presencia meramente pacifica en el sitio de destrucción minera exigiremos:

* La salida inmediata de las empresa Dominion Minerals (EEUU) del la Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle y el cese de los abusos a nuestro pueblo.

* El revoque inmediato de la Concesión de Explotación Metálica numero #6 de 2006 (Proyecto Cerro Chorcha) por parte del Ministra del Ministerio de Comercio e Industria, licenciada Gisela Álvarez de Porras.

Para ampliar al respeto suministramos algunos aspectos importantes del proyecto minero Cerro Chorcha:

- La Concesión actual es 24,242 hectáreas dentro de la Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle y las áreas protegidas Palo Seco y Reserva Forestal Fortuna. La empresa pidió una concesión más grande que está en trámites con el MICI.

- La empresa recibió una concesión de exploración minera del Ministerio de Comercio e Industria en 2006, firmado por Manuel José Paredes que apareció como Jefe Oficial Ejecutivo de Dominion Minerals en Febrero 2009, dos meses después de salir de su carga en MICI. El aprobó la concesión sin Estudio de Impacto Ambiental.

- El supuesto “permiso” de la comarca es ilegal. El articulo 48 de la ley 10 de la Comarca dice, “En estos casos (de exploración o explotación), el Estado y el concesionario desarrollarán un programa de divulgación, de forma que las autoridades y las comunidades indígenas sean informadas y puedan plantear voluntariamente sus puntos de vista sobre dichos proyectos, los cuales deben garantizar los derechos de la población en beneficio y cumplimiento de los principios de desarrollo sostenible y protección ecológica, procurando su participación.” La autoridad máxima de la Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle es el Congreso General que siempre ha rechazado exploración minera dentro de la Comarca.

- Dominion Minerals es una empresa de EEUU que compró el 100% de las acciones del proyecto Cerro Chorcha el abril 2009. La empresa facilitó 11 sitios de exploración en 2007 en el área de Guariviara, Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle, sin Estudio de Impacto Ambiental. (http://www.dominionminerals.com/)

- En Diciembre 2008, la empresa presentó un EIA para 26 nuevos sitios de exploración dentro de la concesión. El día 9 de marzo de 2009 ANAM rechazó el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental para 26 nuevos sitios de exploración en el Proyecto Cerro Chorcha y proclamó ilegal los 11 sitios que la empresa hizo en 2007. La empresa presentó de nuevo un EIA con ajustes el 15 de marzo 2009. El Jefe oficial ejecutivo de Dominion Minerals, Corp., Pini Althaus, por medio de un comunicado publico el día 2 de junio 2009 anunció la intención de la empresa empezar con las nuevas perforaciones.

Somos enfáticos en decir que iremos de manera pacifica y rechazamos todo acto de violencia.

¡Si a la Vida, No a la Mina!
Los grupos Ngöbe solidarios contra la Mina Cerro Chorcha