(Prensa.com) Leaders from the Comarca Ngäbe Buglé yesterday surprised legislators by presenting them with a demand to cancel all existing mining concessions granted to national and foreign companies, and the prohibition of the development of hydro projects in their region.The leaders presented a proposed bill to members of the National Assembly. This took place hours before a committee, which includes leaders from the comarca, was supposed to meet to discuss proposed mining reforms.
Ngäbe Buglé leader Rogelio Montezuma said that the bill will help protect indigenous lands from exploitation. It calls for a moratorium on all hydro and mining projects for the next three years.
The ban would extend to areas bordering the comarca, including Santa Fe, Las Palmas and Cañazas in the province of Veraguas, San Lorenzo, San Félix, Remedios and Tolé in the province of Chiriquí, and Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí Grande and Changuinola in Bocas del Toro.