Central America

Panamanian university community demands repeal of mining contract

Photo: El Siglo

November 23 |

Professors, students, and administrative staff of the University of Panama marched this Wednesday to the Supreme Court of Justice of that country to demand the ruling of unconstitutionality of Law 406.

The rector of the university, Eduardo Flores, said that the protesters also intend to deliver an open letter, addressed to the authorities, in which they argue why the contract with Minera Panama, a branch of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals, is unconstitutional.

The document states that “the legislative procedure followed for the approval of this contract-law violates the constitutional norms” since it can only be “approved or rejected”, “there is no power to return it in order to make modifications to its content, as it happened”.

The letter denounced that “the contract, contained in law 406, violates the constitutional norms on the ecological regime which oblige the State to guarantee that the population lives in a healthy environment free of contamination”, in reference to the fact that the area granted for this mining exploitation is within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

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CEL

The text argued that this is the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, as well as that it “violates the human right of Panamanians to live in a healthy environment and implies the abandonment of the Panamanian State of the protection, preservation and improvement of that environment”.

Finally, the document urged the Supreme Court to “pronounce in a timely manner and in law, but also in accordance with the arguments made by the great majority of the Panamanian people in favor of the unconstitutionality and inconvenience of the referred mining contract”.

Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.