Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Panama City (Agenzia Fides) – After several days of unrest and angry discussion between workers and representatives of the government, at last calm has returned to Panama, and a call from many sides for the parties to dialogue appears to have been heeded. On July 8 clashes between demonstrating workers and police left at least 105 people injured, one dead and a hundred arrested. The following report on the events of past week was sent to Fides by the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Panama.
The province of Bocas del Toro was in chaos with demonstrations staged by 4,000 workers of the Union of the banana industry, the Bocas Fruit Compaña. Roads leading to the town of Changuinola were completely blocked by banana workers, joined by members of the Union of Workers of Building and related Industries. Changuinola, a small town in the north of Panama, on the border with Costa Rica, has a population of 50,000 and the main industry is banana growing and trade.
The worker's protests were part of an escalation of protests against a new law, Law 30, also referred to as the " lobster law" or " golazo law ", because it introduces reforms in the Labour Code which restrict the workers' right to strike. The demonstrators blocked the roads with branches of trees and large objects, to stop residents and tourists from leaving or entering Changuinola. On Tuesday 6 July, the Minster of Labour (MITRADEL), Alma Cortes, went to Bocas del Toro to try to convince the workers to change their attitude, but returned to the capital empty handed.
The workers said they would not open the roads until Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli abrogates Law 30. All economic and commercial activity was paralysed: the road block prevented the arrival of food and other prime necessities including fuel causing damage for about one million dollars. After days of tension the secretary general of MiTradel, Hernan Garcia, came to dialogue with the workers.
The necessity of dialogue was underlined by Maribel Jaén, of the local Catholic Justice and Peace Commission: “what is needed is sincere dialogue aimed at promoting the common good of the local people seriously affected by the situation ”. The Archbishop of Panama, Mgr. José Domingo Ulloa, having asked the Bishop of Bocas del Toro Mgr Anibal Saldana to assess the conditions of persons detained in Changuinola and being reassured, called on the police authorities to respect the human rights of the arrested and the injured. Latest news reports say the Banana Workers Union has agreed to stop the strike after the government promised to suspend part of the controversial Law 30 temporarily. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 13/07/2010)
