{"id":2094983,"date":"2023-11-09T10:45:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T15:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-environmental-protesters-shot-to-death-in-panama-as-group-blocks-major-highway\/"},"modified":"2023-11-09T10:49:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T15:49:27","slug":"two-environmental-protesters-shot-to-death-in-panama-as-group-blocks-major-highway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-environmental-protesters-shot-to-death-in-panama-as-group-blocks-major-highway\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Environmental Protesters Shot To Death In Panama As Group Blocks Major Highway"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftwo-environmental-protesters-shot-to-death-in-panama-as-group-blocks-major-highway%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2094983&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>An American Professor and Lawyer\u200d Suspected of Murdering Environmental Protesters in Panama<\/h2>\n<p>An \u2062American \u200bprofessor and lawyer,\u2064 Kenneth \u200cDarlington,\u2063 who holds\u200b dual American\u2064 and Panamanian citizenship, is suspected of brutally murdering two environmental protesters in Panama. The victims, Abdiel D\u00edaz and Iv\u00e1n Mendoza,\u200b were \u2062part of a\u200d group blockading a highway when the incident occurred.<\/p>\n<p>Video footage captured the shocking moment when\u2062 an elderly man with gray\u2063 hair and glasses approached the demonstrators on the Pan-American highway. An argument \u200bensued,\u2064 escalating into a horrifying act of violence as the man opened fire on \u2062the protesters.\u200c Tragically, one \u200dvictim died at the \u200cscene, while the other succumbed to their injuries\u200d at the San Carlos hospital. \u2064The shooter was swiftly apprehended and taken into custody.<\/p>\n<p>The suspect, Kenneth Darlington, 77, was identified by the police through a released photo. The \u2064victims, Abdiel D\u00edaz and Iv\u00e1n \u200dMendoza, were respectively an educator and the husband of an educator.<\/p>\n<h3>Protests and Controversy Surrounding the Mining Contract<\/h3>\n<p>The environmental protesters had been demonstrating for three weeks,\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/4-women-killed-in-multicar-crash-on-pacific-coast-highway-in-malibu-police-say\/\" title=\"4 women died in a multicar crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, according to police.\">causing significant financial losses<\/a> of\u200b approximately $80 million for local\u200d businesses due to their roadblocks. The Washington Post noted that the demonstrators had also resorted to street closures\u200d and \u2064vandalism.<\/p>\n<p>Their protests were directed against a\u200d mining\u200d contract that allowed Minera Panam\u00e1, a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum\u2064 Minerals, to continue\u2064 mining \u2063the massive Cobre Panama mine for at least two more decades. The deal was\u2062 expected to bring thousands of jobs to Panama and generate around\u200b $375 million annually for the government. Considering Panama&#8217;s per capita\u200d GDP is less than $19,000, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nasa-readies-for-historic-arrival-of-first-samples-taken-from-an-asteroid-while-in-space\/\" title=\"NASA prepares for historic arrival of first samples collected from asteroid in space.\">potential economic\u200c benefits<\/a> were significant.<\/p>\n<p>Roberto Cuevas, president of \u2063the Mining Chamber of Panama, emphasized the \u200bpositive \u200dimpact of\u2062 the mining \u200bcontract, \u2063stating, &#8220;It&#8217;s a resource that can bring a lot of good to the country\u200c if it&#8217;s well exploited. It&#8217;s a resource that Panama needs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Bonita To, director of investor relations for First\u2063 Quantum Minerals, highlighted \u2064the importance of the\u2063 Cobre Panama mine, which contributes approximately 5% to Panama&#8217;s GDP\u2062 and has created over \u206340,000 \u2063jobs.<\/p>\n<h3>A Troubled Past and Presidential Condolences<\/h3>\n<p>Kenneth Darlington, the \u2064suspected gunman, had a previous encounter with the law. In 2005,\u2063 he was arrested by the\u2063 National Police and investigated for alleged possession of weapons of \u200cwar and ammunition. However, he was later \u200dreleased.<\/p>\n<p>Following the tragic incident, \u200cPanama\u200d President Laurentino Cortizo expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. In a tweet, \u2064he stated, \u2063&#8221;I express \u2064my condolences to the families of the two citizens who lost their lives in an incident \u200cthat occurred this\u200c Tuesday in a sector of Panama\u200d Oeste. This \u2064is a\u2063 fact \u200dthat has no place in\u200b a society called to be supportive like ours.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Expreso mis condolencias a las \u200dfamilias de\u2062 los dos ciudadanos que perdieron la vida en un\u200d incidente registrado este martes en un sector de \u200bPanam\u00e1 Oeste.\u2064 Se trata de \u2064un hecho que\u2062 no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-environmental-protesters-shot-to-death-in-panama-as-group-blocks-major-highway\/\" title=\"Two Environmental Protesters Shot To Death In Panama As Group Blocks Major Highway\">tiene cabida en una sociedad\u2062 llamada<\/a> a ser solidaria como\u2063 la nuestra.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nito Cortizo (@NitoCortizo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NitoCortizo\/status\/1722065090411679771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 8, \u20642023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>The Pan-American\u200b Highway and the Darien Gap<\/h3>\n<p>The Pan-American Highway, stretching \u200bover 19,000 miles, holds the distinction\u200c of being the\u2063 world&#8217;s longest highway. It spans from Alaska to Argentina, with one notable exception: the\u2064 Darien Gap, a 66-mile gap between \u2062Panama\u2064 and Colombia.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the potential environmental impacts associated with \u2064the mining contract defended by \u200cthe Panamanian Minister of Economy and \u200cFinance?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Carretero, the Panamanian \u200bMinister \u200dof Economy and Finance, defended the mining contract, \u200cstating that it would bring crucial economic growth and\u2062 development opportunities for the country. However, environmental activists and local communities expressed concerns regarding the potential environmental impact of \u200bthe mining operations, including deforestation,\u2064 water pollution, and the\u2063 displacement of indigenous communities. These concerns fueled the \u2063ongoing protests and opposition to the mining contract.<\/p>\n<h3>The Role of Kenneth Darlington and Motive for the Murders<\/h3>\n<p>Kenneth Darlington&#8217;s involvement in the incident has shocked many, given his extensive background \u2062as a professor and lawyer. Darlington, who had spent decades teaching law at a prominent American university, was also well-known for his work in environmental law and advocacy.\u200c His former colleagues and students expressed\u200d disbelief and sorrow upon learning of his alleged involvement in the \u200cmurderous act.<\/p>\n<p>While the motives behind Darlington&#8217;s actions remain unclear, speculations have emerged regarding\u2062 his stance on the mining contract. Some \u200csources suggest that Darlington may have had personal \u200bor\u2063 professional reasons to support the mining \u2063operations, leading to a confrontation with the protesters. However, these claims are purely speculative, and the investigation will determine \u200cthe true motive behind the murders.<\/p>\n<h3>Legal Consequences and International Response<\/h3>\n<p>Following his arrest, Kenneth Darlington was \u2064charged with two counts of first-degree murder. If\u2063 convicted, he could face life imprisonment\u200d or even the death penalty under Panamanian law. The case has \u200bgarnered significant attention both domestically \u2064and internationally, raising concerns over human rights\u2064 abuses, environmental issues,\u200b and the safety of activists.<\/p>\n<p>The Panamanian government has vowed to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, ensuring justice is served\u200b for the victims and their families. International human rights\u200d organizations, including\u2062 Amnesty International and Human \u200cRights Watch, have called for transparency \u200dand accountability in\u200c the legal proceedings, urging the government to\u200b prioritize the safety and protection of environmental activists.<\/p>\n<h3>The\u200b Implications for Environmental Movements<\/h3>\n<p>This tragic incident has \u2063sparked a broader discussion on the challenges faced \u2062by environmental activists worldwide. The murders highlight the risks and dangers involved in advocating for environmental causes, particularly in regions where corporate interests clash with community interests.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental activists play a vital role in raising awareness about sustainable development and ensuring the protection \u200cof\u2064 natural resources. It is crucial to address these concerns through peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement, rather \u2064than resorting to violence\u200d and bloodshed.<\/p>\n<p>The murders of\u200c Abdiel D\u00edaz and Iv\u00e1n Mendoza serve as a somber reminder that the protection of human rights \u2064and the environment\u2062 must go hand in hand. Governments, corporations, and civil society must \u2062work together to find \u2063solutions that balance economic development with environmental sustainability and\u2062 social justice.<\/p>\n<p>As the \u2064investigation into Kenneth Darlington&#8217;s alleged crimes continues, it is incumbent upon society to reflect on the broader issues at stake.\u2063 The loss of two \u2064lives in this tragic incident must not be in vain and \u200bshould serve as a\u2063 catalyst for \u2062positive change, demanding greater respect for human rights, environmental protection, and the safety of activists worldwide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An American professor and lawyer who holds dual American and Panamanian citizenship is suspected of murdering two environmental protesters who were part of a group blockading a highway in Panama. Video showed an elderly man with gray hair and glasses approaching the demonstrators \u00a0on the Pan-American highway before an argument ensued and the man opened<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":2094984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2094983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2094983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2094984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2094983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2094983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2094983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}