Expect Violence At The National Assembly
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - All of the cops in Panama have pulled back to form a defensive perimeter around the National Assembly building, located in Calidonia next to the 5 of May Plaza. There are hundreds if not thousands of SUNTRACS labor union members marching through Panama City, all of them headed towards the National Assembly. Their plan is for all of them to meet there, and to demand the immediate repeal of the controversial Law 72, which allows for the sale of the lands of the Colon Free Trade Zone.
Thus far the National Police have not tried to reopen any of the roads that were being blocked by the SUNTRACS protesters, probably because they had already intercepted their telephone calls, and they knew about their master plan. So, they made a strategic decision to just allow the road closures to run their course, and to keep their forces in reserve to defend the National Assembly.
There's a good chance there will be clashes outside of the National Assembly between the SUNTRACS workers and the National Police. Avoid this area at all costs. The situation is still fluid and changing minute by minute.
Meanwhile, the government ministers are trying to set up a meeting of the Executive Cabinet Council via Skype, in order to cast their votes to officially request that the National Assembly revoke Law 72. No one is going to wait until Ricardo Martinelli decides to return to Panama.
And for the record, I predicted all of this crap last night...
Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Don't forget to follow Panama Guide on Twitter. Salud.
