Panama: With German money destroy jungle

Panamanian indigenous reject the construction of hydroelectric

Panama not only has its famous canal. It also prides itself for its cultural and ecological wealth, which is exceptional.

A great biodiversity is housed in the jungle of the Ngäbe. Similarly, the sierra de Tabasara in the Chiriqui province is a paradise for amphibians and reptiles, including many that are found only in this place and that are threatened with extinction, including the Blue Frog that lives only on the banks of the River will be flooded by the reservoir.

The territory of the Ngäbe is legally recognized by the Government of Panama as collective property; but the natives not having given his consent for the hydroelectric project Barro Blanco feel cheated and abused. The result of their protests: two dead and more than 100 wounded and detainees and other abuses were the sad balance of demonstrations against the mining and hydroelectric projects in the Ngäbe Buglé territory.

The hydroelectric project is very questionable to be linked in various acts of corruption in Panama. The original environmental impact assessment was never consulted the Ngäbe people. After the concession, its leaders decided to unilaterally increase the size of the reservoir without appropriate consultations or a new EIA, as required by law.

For all that a national lobbying campaign to the DEG German development State Bank has arranged to remove immediately the funding granted to the hydroelectric project Barro Blanco.