{"id":1096,"date":"2025-11-25T20:26:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T20:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/noapuertobaru.com\/?p=1096"},"modified":"2025-11-25T20:26:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T20:26:38","slug":"major-media-outlets-in-panama-highlight-the-situation-of-environmental-defenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noapuertobaru.com\/en\/articles-2\/major-media-outlets-in-panama-highlight-the-situation-of-environmental-defenders\/","title":{"rendered":"Major media outlets in Panama highlight the situation of environmental defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"

M<\/strong>over 60 scientific, social and environmental organisations<\/b>\u00a0they publicly denounced the progress of\u00a0a legal and media intimidation strategy<\/b>\u00a0intended to curb and punish those who defend the environment in the country.<\/p>\n

The signatory organisations demanded that\u00a0Crown Prosecution Service<\/b>\u00a0and to\u00a0Judiciary<\/b>\u00a0dismiss the complaints<\/b>\u00a0submitted by the company\u00a0Ocean Pacific Financial,\u00a0<\/i>port project developer\u00a0Puerto Bar\u00fa in David,<\/b>\u00a0against the organisations\u00a0Adopt Bosque Panama<\/b>\u00a0and the\u00a0Centre for Environmental Advocacy (CIAM)<\/b>.Both complaints have already been\u00a0accepted by the Public Prosecutor's Office<\/b>, which raised alarm bells in civil society.<\/p>\n

In their joint statement, the organisations reminded that Panama is a signatory to the\u00a0Escaz\u00fa Agreement<\/b>, which obliges States to\u00a0ensure a safe environment for those who defend human and environmental rights<\/b>.<\/p>\n

However, they pointed out that actions such as these, which seek to punish public opinion, discredit environmental organisations and wear down their advocacy capacity, constitute\u00a0SLAPPs<\/b>strategic lawsuits against public participation, widely recognised internationally for their use as tools of\u00a0censorship, intimidation and emotional, legal and financial exhaustion<\/b>.<\/p>\n

EIAs in Panama, the illusion of sustainability \u2013 La Estrella<\/a><\/h2>\n

\u00abIn Panama, the Environmental Impact Assessment has become a repetitive ceremony, an administrative requirement that seemingly protects nature, but in practice ends up endorsing the degradation of ecosystems. The country has been applying the General Environment Act for over two decades, but its results are not the best. Its spirit has been diluted among political and economic interests, consultancies and complacent authorities. EIAs were born to ensure that development did not destroy natural resources and people's quality of life, but today they barely serve to justify decisions already made\u00bb<\/p>\n

Environmentalists denounce the use of the justice system as a tool for persecution in Panama \u2013 El Siglo<\/a><\/h2>\n

\u00abThe statements come after two criminal complaints were filed against the Centre for Environmental Advocacy (CIAM)<\/b> and entities that have promoted the protection of natural areas in the province of Chiriqu\u00ed, especially in view of the impact that the Puerto Bar\u00fa project would have. Both organisations maintain that their work seeks to raise awareness and propose sustainable alternatives, not to hinder development.\u00bb<\/p>\n

Civil society demands a halt to lawsuits against environmental defender groups in Panama \u2013 La Prensa<\/a><\/h2>\n