World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Panama
| Publisher | Minority Rights Group International |
| Publication Date | December 2008 |
| Cite as | Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Panama, December 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4954ce3823.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Comments | In October 2015, MRG revised its World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. For the most part, overview texts were not themselves updated, but the previous 'Current state of minorities and indigenous peoples' rubric was replaced throughout with links to the relevant minority-specific reports, and a 'Resources' section was added. Refworld entries have been updated accordingly. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last updated: December 2008
Environment
The Republic of Panama is located on the Isthmus of Panama, which connects Central and South America. On the western border is Costa Rica and on the east is Colombia. The Panama Canal runs between the low-lying Caribbean and Pacific Coasts. There are numerous offshore islands.
The total population numbering just over three million is one of the smallest in Spanish-speaking Latin America.
History
Before the arrival of the Spanish in 1501, Panama was densely inhabited by a number of indigenous peoples whose kinship groups extended into the Caribbean as well as South America and along the isthmus as far north as Honduras. Trade and travel between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts was conducted by the indigenous nations along a trail, which was called Las Cruces.
As the narrowest part of the American continent, Panama's history has been largely determined by its strategic importance for imperial powers. Following the Spanish arrival the isthmus became a major crossroads for intercontinental and transoceanic travel using the Camino Real (Royal Road), which developed out of the original Las Cruces trail. For nearly two centuries it was the principal route for taking large numbers of enslaved Africans to the Pacific Coast colonies like Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, and for transferring gold and silver from South American mines to Spain.
Today mestizos of mixed indigenous, African and European ancestry make up the majority of the local population.
With the decline of the Spanish Empire, Panama lost much of its importance and became a part of independent Colombia in 1821. Its significance as a transit area was enhanced again when U. S. prospectors and settlers began making their way to Oregon and the goldfields of California via the Isthmus of Panama.
In 1846, the government of Colombia signed a treaty with the United States permitting the construction of a railroad across the territory that would run from Panama City on the Pacific to Colon on the Caribbean Coast. In addition to Chinese workers this brought the first influx of Afro-Caribbean labor migrants who were recruited from Jamaica and other parts of the British West Indies.
In 1903, the USA supported the secession of Panama from Colombia in order to gain control over the Canal Zone: an eight kilometre strip of land, on either side of the construction site of the proposed inter-oceanic canal. In exchange for a US guarantee of Panamanian freedom from reincorporation into Colombia, the new state granted the USA the right to build and own the canal 'in perpetuity'. The construction employed over 30,000 Afro-Caribbean 'diggers', many of whom stayed after completion. The Canal was opened in 1914 and US involvement in the creation of Panama set a precedent for regular interference in Panamanian affairs.
In 1939, the country's protectorate status was ended in a revision of the canal treaty which explicitly recognized Panamanian sovereignty. This ushered in an era of ultra-nationalism which had a negative effect on non-Hispanic groups however, the USA continued to control the Canal Zone. It was not until the 1970s, under the government of Omar Torrijos, that a new form of Panamanian nationalism and a desire for sovereignty brought Afro-Panamanians and the dominant mestizo Spanish-speakers together. A concrete result of this process was the revision of the canal treaty in 1977, which gave Panama sovereignty over the Canal Zone and affirmed that full operational control would pass into Panamanian hands in December 1999.
The US removal of Panamanian leader General Manuel Noriega, through a military operation in December 1989 marked a blow to Panamanian sovereignty and a return to a period of US interference in the country's affairs. More than 2,000 died, many more 'disappeared' and 20,000 lost their homes during the first days of the invasion.
Peoples
Main languages: Spanish, English Creole, indigenous languages
Main religions: Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant/Evangelical), indigenous religions, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Baha'i faith
Main minority groups: Afro-Panamanians (14%, CIA 2007), Ngobe-Bugle (200-250,000), Kuna (50,000), Chocó (Embera-Wounan) (8,246, 2000 Census), Bri-Bri, Naso, Chinese (6%)
The majority of the population of Panama is mestizo, or mixed Spanish, Indian, Chinese, and African descent. Spanish is the official and pervasive language with English being a common second language used by Afro-Caribbean communities and by many in business and the professions. More than half the population lives in the area between Panama City to Colon.
Most of the population of Panama works in the service-based economy, which is supported by ship registration, tourism, banking and other financial services.
Governance
After the invasion, Panamanian political parties became more cautious about promoting anti-US nationalism. The 1994 elections were won by Ernesto Balladares and the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) which was the party of Noriega. The new government toned down the party's previous anti-US views and focused on trying to attract more investment and expansion of the economic sector.
In the elections of September 2004 Martín Torrijos (son of Omar Torrijos) of the PRD earned 47 percent of the vote and assumed a five year presidential term. Government policies continued to favour a market economy and free-trade arrangements with the United States.
Panama's constitution seeks to protect the ethnic identity and native languages of Panama's population, requiring the government to provide bilingual literacy programmes in indigenous communities. The Family Code recognizes traditional indigenous cultural marriage rites as the equivalent of a civil ceremony. The Ministry of Government and Justice maintains a Directorate of Indigenous Policy and the Legislative Assembly also has an indigenous affairs commission, which is aimed at addressing charges that the Government has neglected indigenous needs.
Despite legal protection and formal equality, indigenous peoples without exception have relatively higher levels of poverty, disease, malnutrition, and illiteracy than the rest of the population. The biggest campaigning issue for Panama's indigenous peoples has been the struggle for land rights in the form of autonomous land reserves..
The 1972 constitution required the government to establish 'comarcas' or reserves for indigenous groups, but this policy was not universally implemented. The country has demarcated territories for five of the country's seven native groups. These have a significant degree of autonomy and are free from taxation.
In November 1993, following a successful national strike with the support of other social movements, the National Coordination of Indigenous Peoples of Panama, made up of Kuna, Embera and Ngobe-Bugle (Guyami) leaders, sponsored a national convention to demand the creation of a high-level government commission to implement greater investment in indigenous areas.
President Endara endorsed the proposals and incorporated the Convention on the Indigenous Peoples' Development Fund into domestic law. These were important steps; however, the Ngobe-Bugle experience of fighting the mining concessions showed that the government would only allow the participation of indigenous groups in decisions when it is forced to by civil protests.
Minorities
Resources
Minority based and advocacy organisations
General
Centro Indígena Para El Desarrollo Y La Conservación Ambiental (CIDCA)
Tel: +507 594 8955
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.redindigena.net/organinteg/cidca.html
Colectivo Dulenega
[Indigenous Culture, Art and Literature]
Tel: +507 212 8301
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://dulenega.nativeweb.org
Afro-Panamanians
Centro de Mujer Panameña
Tel: +507 235 1350
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mujeresafro.org/www.mujeresafro.org
Friends of the Afroantillean Museum (SAMAAP)
Tel: +507 262 1668
Email: [email protected]
The Silver People Heritage Foundation
Sr. Roberto A. Reid or Sra. Lydia M. Reid
Apartado 0823-04211
Panamá, República de Panamá
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +507 6 819 6624
Skype: copticmonk
Guaymi (Ngobe-Bugle)
Acción Cultural Ngobe (ACUN)
Tel: +507 262 2326
Email: [email protected]
Asociación De Estudiantes Ngobe Buglé De La Universidad De Panamá
Email: [email protected]
Asociación De Mujeres Ngobe
[Indigenous Women's Rights and Development]
Email: [email protected]
Centro de Capacitación Social de Panama
Tel: +507 229 1542
Email: [email protected]
Centro de Estudios y Acción Social Panameña (CEASPA)
Tel: +507 226 6602
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sanlorenzo.org.pa
Coordinación General De Mujeres Ngobe-Bugle
Tel: +507 6732 4293
Email: [email protected]
Coordinadora Nacional De Mujeres Indígenas De Panamá
[Indigenous women's rights, culture and development]
Tel: +507 227 4138
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.enlacemujeresindigenas.org
Federación De Organizaciones Artesanales Ngobe Buglé
Tel: +507 727 0929
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.redindigena.net/organinteg/foranb.html
Mery Ngobe
[Indigenous Gender Rights]
Tel: +507 226 1992, 6591 2086
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.redindigena.net/organinteg/merybrare.html
Fundación Para El Desarrollo Indígena Uaguitupu
Tel: +507 263 1349, 315 1576
Fundación Para La Promoción Del Conocimiento Indígena (FPCI)
Tel: +507 227 5090
Organización Para El Fomento De La Cultura Ngobe Y Turismo De Boca Del Toro
Tel: +507 6575 4405
Website: www.ngobebuglepanama.com
Servicios Técnicos Pro-Ngobe
Tel: +507 295 4130
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.redindigena.net/organinteg/prongobe.html
Kuna
Asociación Kunas Unidos Por Napguana
Tel: +507 220 0770
Email: [email protected]
Cooperativa Productores De Molas
Tel: +507 262 6827
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.catgen.com/home/coopmola/EN/0.html
Fundación Dobbo Yala
Tel: +507 261 7229
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dobboyala.org.pa
Instituto De Investigaciones Koskun Kalu
Tel: +507 316 1232, 33, 34
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://onmaked.nativeweb.org
Movimiento De La Juventud Kuna
Tel: +507 6608 2180
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Mundo Kuna
Tel: +507 6579 8242
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mundokuna.ya.st/
Taller De Mujeres Kunas Kikadiryai
Tel: +507 227 4175
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Plaza/1873/home.html
Chocó (Embera-Wounan)
Congreso General Emberá Wounaan
Tel: +507 273 0790
Consejo Comarcal Embera
Tel: +507 227 8896
Email: [email protected]
Fundación Emberá Para El Desarrollo
Tel: +507 212 2639, 6663 4045
Email: [email protected]
Organización De Jóvenes Embera-Wounaan De Panamá
Tel: +507 261 7229, 6510 3541
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ojewpanama.turincon.com, http://www.redindigena.net/organinteg/ojewp.html
Chinese
Centro Cultural Chino Panameño
[Chinese Cultural Institution]
Tel: +507 236 0255
Email: [email protected] isys.edu.pa
Website: http://www.ccchp-isys.edu.pa
Sources and further reading
General
Barry, T., Lindsay-Poland, J., et al., Inside Panama, Albuquerque, N. Mex., Resource Centre Press, 1995.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, December 2, 2002, Flooding In Costa Rica and Panama Kills Four, Strands Thousands. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe
US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994, Panama, Washington, DC, US Government Printing Office, 1995.
US Department of State. March 31, 2003. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Panama 2002. retrieved 30 April 2007, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18340.htm
Afro-Panamanians
Barry, T., Lindsay-Poland, J., et al., Inside Panama, Albuquerque, N. Mex., Resource Centre Press, 1995.
Davis, D.J., 'Panama', in MRG (ed.), No Longer Invisible: Afro-Latin Americans Today, London, Minority Rights Publications, 1995; and in MRG (ed.), Afro-Central Americans, London, MRG report, 1996.
Piel Oscura: Ensayos y Reflexiones al filo del Centenario, Alberto Barrow y Dr. George Priestley, Dr. Leticia Thomas Brereton, Panamanian Dictionary
US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004. retrieved 30 April 2007, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41769.htm
Guaymi (Ngobe-Bugle)
Fourth World Development Project sponsored by the Centre for World Indigenous Studies.
'Indian Uprising over Land Titling.' Latin America Weekly Report May 13, 1993.
'Land Distribution Sparks Conflict with Indigenous People.' Inter Press Services, July 3, 1992.
Lexis-Nexis: All News Files 1995-2006.
US Department of State. March 31, 2003. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Panama 2002. retrieved 30 April 2007, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18340.htm
US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994, Panama, Washington, DC, US Government Printing Office, 1995.
Kuna
Asociacion Napguana. retrieved 30 April 2007, http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/4852
Cawthorne, Andrew. 'A Model of Native Self Rule: Kunas Island Kingdom in the Caribbean.' The Toronto Star Nov. 12, 1993.
Chinese
Chang, Ching Chieh. The Chinese in Latin America: A Preliminary Geographical Survey with Special Reference to Cuba and Jamaica. Doctoral Thesis at the University of Maryland. 1956
Inter Press Service.
Rohter, Larry. 'Trafficking in People: Was it One More Racket?' (Panama Journal) New York Times April 10, 1990.
The Tragedy of the Chinese. retrieved 30 April 2007, http://www.trainweb.org/panama/chinesetragedy.html
The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), January 25, 2001, The Borderless Nation: The 80 Million Chinese Who Live Outside China Form A Group With Staggering Economic Clout.
Xinhua General Overseas News Service.
