- 130 - 64. This information is challenged by the non-governmental organizations and by many citizens of Panama. On 10 May 1993, 300 of them lodged a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which allowed 285 cases, after the United States Supreme Court had rejected all the applications submitted to it. The investigation of these complaints is continuing and a number of witnesses have already been heard. 65. The present Government indicates that the files relating to the United States assistance are no longer in its possession. The question arises whether the total sum reported was in fact allocated and in what manner. The specific case of the indigenous territories 66. The Committee had received reports from non-governmental organizations concerning several expulsions in the territory occupied by the indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé people, as illustrated by the case of Puente Blanco in the province of Bocas del Toro and the case of Campo Alegre in the province of Chiriquí. 67. Plans had been made for the mission to visit that area in order to inspect the sites and interview the indigenous populations. However, since a dispute had broken out between the indigenous populations and a mining company that wished to carry out mining operations in the Ngöbe-Buglé 4/ territory, the Government felt that, for security reasons, the mission should not travel to the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí. The members of the mission found that regrettable because the local communities were expecting them and several persons had travelled long distances to meet them. Finally, in the capital, they were able to meet the chiefs of the various communities, who informed them of their problems. 68. The provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí and Veraguas are undoubtedly the poorest in the country and the indigenous communities constitute the most disadvantaged populations, living in conditions of extreme poverty and legal insecurity with regard to the ownership of their lands. Their main demand, which they explained to the mission in simple and often very poetic language, is the demarcation of their territory (comarca), for which they have been fighting since the 1960s. 69. These people live from subsistence agriculture and are facing serious ecological difficulties, particularly problems of soil erosion. The incursion of mining companies into the region and their desire to exploit the subsoil without overly concerning themselves with the damage caused to the Ngöbe-Buglé communities are giving rise to conflicts that could become serious unless measures are taken quickly. 70. The general congress of the Ngöbe-Buglé people, which was attended by more than 5,000 indigenous inhabitants in March 1995, demanded, in particular, urgent consideration of the draft bill establishing the "Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé"; it also requested provision of the requisite medical resources and called for ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 (1989) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries. It condemned the proliferation of mining activities that are threatening its people’s survival and requested the right to be consulted in that regard. It opposed any expulsion, threat or intimidation on the part of the landowners.