Assessment for Chinese in Panama

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Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

Ethnic Chinese in Panama have few of the risk factors for rebellion, although they do face some political restriction and economic discrimination. Given their lack of political organization, even protest is unlikely above the level of verbal complaints. Given the history of anti-Chinese sentiments in Panama, they are slightly at risk for intercommunal violence, with more recent arrivals being more at risk than more established Chinese.

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Analytic Summary

Most Chinese in Panama are concentrated in urban centers and work in commerce (GROUPCON = 1). They are culturally, religiously, linguistically and racially distinct from Panamanians (CUSTOM = 1; LANG = 1; BELIEF = 2; RACE = 2).

Chinese immigration to Latin America goes back at least as far as the 17th century; however, the large-scale migration known as the "coolie trade" began in the 19th century. Thousands of Chinese were forced or enticed to travel to the Americas as contract laborers as slavery was being outlawed. Panama's original Chinese came as laborers on the trans-Panama railroad in 1850; they numbered only 1,000 and most died of disease or emigrated to Jamaica. In the 1880s, a few hundred more were brought to Panama for construction on the French canal. Many of these laborers remained in Panama after their "contracts" expired and others immigrated later.

After Panamanian independence in 1903, a law prohibiting Chinese immigration was passed. However, the core of Chinese already in Panama found loopholes, continuing immigration despite further government efforts. This process has continued through most of the 20th century. Chinese control of the 1940s Panamanian grocery trade led to the rise in anti-Chinese sentiment and a backlash against them, led by the nationalist president Arnulfo Arias. Anti-Chinese sentiment came to a head in 1941 when approximately 1,000 Chinese were forced to leave Panama and Chinese immigration was entirely cut off.

The Chinese in Panama have been organized in "Overseas Chinese" associations since at least the mid-1980s. While these associations complain about discriminatory laws and general social discrimination, most seem more concerned with maintaining close ties with the government and improving the image of the Chinese in the eyes of other Panamanians. They have not engaged in protest or rebellion in recent years (PROT00-06 = 0; REB00-06 = 0). They have frequently raised money for Panamanian charities and donated the money in the name of the Panamanian president and/or his wife. Furthermore, second and third generation Chinese are generally more accepted in society, while newly arrived immigrants are not. The established Chinese generally do not want to be associated with the recent arrivals from China.

Chinese immigrants are forbidden from owning retail businesses, while Chinese-Panamanian citizens are free to do so. Since the law forbids any non-citizen from owning retail businesses, the Panamanian government has justified it in terms of the need to keep North American foreign retail chains from dominating Panamanian markets. However, given the history of the Chinese in the retail business and prevalent anti-Chinese sentiments this may be a way to allow for a social form of discrimination (ECDIS04-06 = 3; POLDIS04-06 = 3).

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References

Jackson, Eric. 5/9-22/2004. "Panama’s Chinese community celebrates a birthday, meets new challenges." The Panama News. http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_10/issue_09/community_01.html.

Lexis-Nexis. Various news reports. 1995-2006.

Minority Rights Group International. 2005. "Chinese Panamanians." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. http://www.minorityrights.org/4217/panama/chinese-panamanians.html.

U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Panama. 1999-2006. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/.

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