In recent weeks, Panama has witnessed a powerful and determined outcry from its Indigenous peoples, who are standing up in defense of their territories, rights, and dignity in the face of government decisions that gravely threaten their way of life. The resurgence of debate around the Cobre Panamá mining project—one of the largest open-pit mines in Central America—has sparked widespread protests, particularly among the Ngäbe-Buglé, Guna, Emberá, Wounaan, and other Indigenous communities. These communities denounce the lack of genuine, free, prior, and informed consent and point to a longstanding pattern of systemic exclusion and marginalization.

In response to these peaceful demonstrations, the Panamanian state has resorted to heavy-handed repression. Reports from human rights organizations and eyewitnesses have documented excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, militarization of Indigenous lands, and operations like “Operación Omega,” which has suspended constitutional rights in predominantly Indigenous areas. Tear gas has been launched into homes, schools, and churches; protest leaders and Indigenous human rights defenders have faced targeted harassment and threats.

As a result of this crisis, the Guna General Congress, among others, has severed ties with the Panamanian government, citing its refusal to engage in dialogue and its disregard for Indigenous demands.

In the face of this suffering, resistance, and cry for justice, the Vincentian Indigenous Confraternity raises its voice in solidarity, echoing the Gospel’s call to justice and peace, and renewing its preferential option for the poor.

What follows is the Vincentian Indigenous Confraternity public statement—a voice of active solidarity, prophetic denunciation, and urgent appeal for the respect and protection of the dignity of Panama’s Indigenous peoples.

A Call for Justice and Dignity:
The Vincentian Indigenous Confraternity stands in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Panama

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free.” (Luke 4:18)

To all people of goodwill and to the authorities of the Republic of Panama:

We, the Vincentian Indigenous Confraternity, observe with deep sorrow and grave concern the escalation of oppression and violence being carried out against our Indigenous brothers and sisters across the nation.

In recent months—particularly during May and June of this year—we have witnessed an alarming pattern of repression that severely threatens fundamental human rights and the inherent dignity of the Ngäbe, Buglé, Guna, Emberá, Wounaan, and other Indigenous communities. Credible reports from human rights organizations, as well as first-hand testimonies from the affected communities, reveal a distressing situation that demands urgent attention and intervention.

We are deeply troubled by the following:

• Excessive use of force and militarization:
  We condemn the disproportionate and often brutal use of force by state security forces, including the National Police and Senafront, against peaceful demonstrators and Indigenous communities. The deployment of tear gas inside homes, schools, and even churches; the use of rubber bullets; beatings; and arbitrary arrests—as documented in areas such as the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca (Ojo de Agua, El Piro Trinidad, Viguí, Tolé, El Prado, San Félix, Horconcito) and the Darién province (Arimae)—are unacceptable and constitute serious violations of human rights. The declaration of “Operación Omega” and the suspension of constitutional rights in Bocas del Toro, a region with a predominantly Indigenous population, are particularly alarming. The restriction of rights such as freedom of assembly and movement, combined with increased police powers and reports of mass arrests and possible violations of due process, risk escalating tensions and silencing legitimate dissent.
• Criminalization of social protest and Indigenous leadership:
  We denounce the systematic efforts to criminalize legitimate social protest and to target Indigenous leaders and human rights defenders. The illegal detentions, harassment, and intimidation aimed at silencing those who defend their ancestral lands, cultures, and livelihoods are an affront to democratic principles and to the rights of free expression and peaceful assembly.
• Disregard for Prior Consultation and Indigenous Rights:
  The continued push for policies and projects—such as the new Social Security Law 462 and ongoing attempts to revive the Cobre Panamá mining project (despite its unconstitutionality)—without the genuine, free, prior, and informed consent of the affected Indigenous communities demonstrates a deep disrespect for their collective rights. Both Panama’s own legal framework and international instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples compel the State to uphold these principles.
• Impact on vulnerable populations:
  We reject the use of violence, looting, and vandalism by a relatively small number of demonstrators as unacceptable actions that undermine the legitimate goals of peaceful protest and cause harm to humble communities. However, the violence and instability fueled by government actions disproportionately affect the most vulnerable—especially women, children, and the elderly—who bear the burden of forced displacement, lack of access to essential services, and the psychological trauma of living under constant threat.

We affirm the sacred dignity of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God. Our solidarity with Indigenous communities is rooted in the Gospel call to justice, peace, and the preferential option for the poor and marginalized. True stability is not built through repression, but by addressing the root causes of public discontent through dialogue and a deep respect for democratic principles.

Therefore, we urgently and fervently call on the Government of Panama to:

• Immediately cease all forms of repression and excessive use of force against Indigenous communities and peaceful demonstrators.
• Release all Indigenous leaders and activists who have been arbitrarily detained and ensure due process for all citizens.
• Initiate genuine and respectful dialogue with Indigenous authorities and organizations, guaranteeing their full and effective participation in decisions that affect their lands and lives.
• Respect and enforce national and international legal frameworks that protect Indigenous rights, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent.
• Thoroughly and impartially investigate all reported abuses and hold perpetrators accountable.
• Prioritize the well-being and integral development of Indigenous peoples, with full respect for their cultures, traditions, and ancestral lands.

We call on all people of faith—especially members of the Vincentian Family—to stand in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, to pray for justice and peace, and to advocate for the respect of human dignity and the rights of all. May the Lord guide us along the path of true reconciliation, justice, and harmonious coexistence.

June 30, 2025

Vincentian Indigenous Confraternity
civicentina@gmail.com