“Indigenous fishing leader warns of potential violence after high-level meetings with 5 national deputies, 2 regional governors, and top authorities – amid fresh arrests and desperate search for allies.”
In a raw, urgent message shared from the frontlines of Panama’s Caribbean coast, a veteran Ngäbe-Buglé fisherman and community leader described back-to-back high-stakes meetings that brought together an extraordinary gathering of power: 5 deputies from the National Assembly, two governors of the affected regions, the regional and local chiefs, community organizations, and other key authorities.
The agenda was clear and critical:
– One session focused on how to rescue and protect Isla Escudo de Veraguas – the last ancestral fishing ground for many Indigenous families, now under severe restrictions and temporary closure by the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) in the name of conservation.
– The second was a direct dialogue between national and local authorities and the fishing community itself
“Day and night we are looking for an ally to defend us,” the leader said. Their movement desperately needs funding to travel and sustain the fight: “It is a factor that can lead us to lose.”
Tomorrow (Tuesday), a group must travel to the city for key engagements, but resources are scarce. “We do not have this expense for everyone, but there we are standing in the fight.”
The tone turned grave when he recounted a warning delivered before a recent government plenary session: “My fishermen are already asking me for permission to confront the police face to face. My fishermen are ready to fight this way.” He emphasized restraint, insisting, “I am holding on – I think there is another way to do things.”
The pressure intensified with “recent repression”: On Wednesday, “3 fishermen were taken to prison” simply for trying to fish in their traditional waters. The leader acted swiftly, intervening directly before the presidency to secure their release or address the situation.
This comes against the backdrop of a years-long conflict: The government imposed a one-year temporary closure on Isla Escudo de Veraguas (starting late 2025), banning most fishing, tourism, and activities to protect unique biodiversity (home to endemic species like the pygmy three-toed sloth). Indigenous fishers argue it threatens their right to food, cultural survival, and livelihoods – especially as industrial operations nearby face less scrutiny. Despite some recent partial allowances for subsistence fishing and passage, tensions remain high with reports of gear confiscations, arrests, and protests reaching international bodies like the UN Human Rights Council.
The fisherman’s plea is clear: The community is exhausted, pushed to the edge, but still seeking peaceful allies and resources to avoid violent confrontation.
Will national authorities listen before it’s too late? The fight for Escudo de Veraguas is far from over – and the world is watching.
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