Eight Gas Stations Will Run Out Of Fuel Today in David, Boquete, and Bugaba
The gas stations in the province of Chiriqui are crowded with the drivers of private vehicles and trucks, who are filling up their tanks in order to avoid running out of petrol and diesel, following the closing of the Inter American Highway in the districts of San Felix and Tole. Gas stations in the districts of David, Boquete, and Bugaba are presenting a shortage in fuel supply. Some stations only have 95 octane gasoline, because they have sold out of 91 octane and diesel. Already it is estimated that today eight gas stations will have run out of fuel to sell. Yira Tobar de Alvarado, of the company Mareasa, fuel distributors in Chiriqui, confirmed their reserves are being depleted and there is concern that the closure prevents the transfer of fuel from Colon to the province. (Panama America)
Editor's Comment: The protesters are demanding that government representatives go to the scene of their roadblock to negotiate with them. In my opinion the government should politely decline, based on fears for the safety and security of the officials. By now it's perfectly clear this "protest" is politically motivated. The indigenous people have been infiltrated by political operatives from the PRD and Panameñista political parties, who are trying to cause problems for Martinelli. Their demands are ridiculous - they want all mining and hydroelectric activities in the entire country shut down - and obviously that's not going to happen. They know their demands are never going to be met, and they are trying to provoke confrontations. In my opinion the government should just continue to wait them out, and insist that they reopen the roads before they will even speak with them. Why negotiate with a terrorist? The government is making the case that these protests are politically motivated and they refuse to fall into the trap. Eventually the public will turn against the protesters and demand they withdraw, right about the time the food and fuel runs out. I bet all those truck drivers could reopen the road if they really wanted to.
