National

Protesters to start hunger strike

Two of the protesters camped out in Plaza Catedral announced yesterday that they would be going on a hunger strike until President Martín Torrijos agrees to meet with them.

Carmen Tedman and Aleyda Suira are leading a group of indigenous residents and others from the interior who are protesting the government's actions regarding hydroelectric and mining projects.

The hunger strike is being called because Torrijos has refused to meet with the protestors, said Larissa Duarte, a spokeswoman for the group.

Panama City Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro had pledged to meet with the group, but that had not happened as of Thursday evening.

This evening the protestors plan to hold a public forum about the country's economic situation, and the impact of proposed mining and hydroelectric projects on the environment.

In the interior, the local politicians seem to be siding with the protesters. Changuinola Mayor Virginia Ábrego asked the federal government yesterday to remove police officers from the indigenous community located near a proposed hydroelectric project. This police presence in indigenous communities is one of the reasons the protest is being held.