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Accident – Death – Obituary News : An American man, identified as 77-year-old Kenneth Darlington, has been arrested in Panama for allegedly shooting and killing two individuals participating in protests against a controversial government mining contract. The incident took place in the Chame district, west of Panama City. The National Police in Panama confirmed the arrest through a now-deleted post on Twitter, which included a photo of the suspect wearing glasses and a gray shirt, handcuffed to a pipe.
Kenneth Darlington is a lawyer and professor who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Panama, according to Newsroom Panama. The U.S. State Department has been contacted for comment regarding the arrest.
Local news reports indicated that the protesters were shot by a driver attempting to bypass the demonstration. The victims have been identified as Iván Rodríguez, 62, and Abdiel Díaz. Díaz died at the scene, while Rodríguez was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Police stated that the victims were shot with a pistol-type firearm during an argument with the protesters who had blocked the road. Graphic footage circulating on social media showed the alleged assailant carrying a gun and removing a tire from the road blockade before opening fire. Subsequently, the police arrested the suspect.
Panama President Laurentino Cortizo expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized that such an event has no place in a society called to be supportive. The incident occurred amidst ongoing nationwide protests against a mining contract that was given final approval on October 20. The contract allows the local subsidiary of Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals to continue operating an open-pit copper mine in a biodiverse jungle area west of the capital for the next 20 years, with a possibility of extension for another 20 years in exchange for $375 million in annual revenue to Panama.
The roadblocks set up by protesters have caused significant economic losses, with up to $80 million in daily losses to businesses, as reported by Reuters citing Panama’s association of company executives. Additionally, schools nationwide have remained closed for over a week due to the protests.
In response to the demonstrations, the Panamanian government initially considered passing legislation that would have revoked the mining contract but later reversed its decision. The incident involving the American man is not the first fatality related to the protests. On November 1, a protester was run over and killed by a foreigner attempting to cross a roadblock in the western part of the country.
The arrest of Kenneth Darlington highlights the escalating tensions surrounding the controversial mining contract and the government’s response to the protests. The case will likely undergo further investigation and legal proceedings in Panama..
