By José Arcia for La Prensa - The date for the general strike being called for by the National Front for the Defense of Social Rights (Frenadeso) has not yet been defined. Frenadeso held a national meeting yesterday during which they decided to create a coordination commission to define the actions they will realize prior to the general strike, and to consult all the unions in order to define the exact day to start the protest. “Gentlemen, it is difficult to realize a general strike," said Genaro Lopez, leader of Frenadeso, during his public speech. After five hours of meeting, which was attended by groups of teachers, environmentalist, construction workers, transportation sector leaders, and doctors, Frenadeso decided to conduct a national march on 24 August 2008 as well as to hold picketing and to distribute fliers during midday.

By Mirna Ospino for the Panama America - Wednesday night the remains of the bus from the Don Bosco route that was set on fire earlier in the afternoon were transferred to the Direction of Judicial Investigation of the National Police. A large number of police officers (including riot control units) arrived at the bus station to remove the remains of the bus with license plate number 8B-2531. The bus owners and drivers at the bus station at first did not want the authorities to remove the bus, but after lengthy discussions with police officers, the authorities eventually towed the bus away. According to the bus owners and drivers, they do not trust the authorities who are conducting the investigation, which is why they will accuse them of being responsible for what happened. Meanwhile the National Police has stated that the bus driver or owner started the fire, after having spread a flammable liquid inside of the interior of the bus.

La Critica - About 96% of bus drivers in the metropolitan area have supported a 48 hour transportation strike, called for by the Union of Carriers and Users, according to the leader of that organization Mariano González. According to Gonzalez more drivers have been joining the strike, which shows a general rejection of the new Transmóvil system being proposed by the government. González also users to excuse the inconveniences caused by the strike for users, and said that passengers will also benefit from the strike, who will have to pay a higher fee if the Transmóvil plan is adopted. Gonzalez made his declarations via telephone interview to RPC radio.

By Jilma Aguilar for El Siglo - The authorities from the National Institute and the Ministry of Education have "put their pants on" and ordered yesterday the first expulsions, after the disturbances and acts of vandalism carried out by students from this school on 2 June 2008. Yesterday school officials expelled Cristian Díaz, Lisbeth Robinson and René Panca, who were identified as participants in the riots causing damages to facilities and furniture estimated at $15,000. At least that is what is indicated in the resolutions issued by the Ministry of Education and the files of those who were expelled. Diaz, Robinson and Panca were notified yesterday. The students reject the accusations and insist that the evidence found within the premises of the organization were placed there by the authorities to frame them for the acts. Now, the students will appeal the decision and their legal representatives (lawyers) will interpose a recourse of unconstitutionality before the Supreme Court of Justice for violating their rights to an education. Carlos Mora, the Director of the school, said he sent all of the pertinent proof to the authorities at the Ministry of Education; therefore any decisions or actions that will be taken against any of the other implicated students will fall to the Regional Office of Education. On Monday, 23 June 2008, when classes start again, those who have been expelled will appear as a civic act of protest, they will realize a hunger strike and they will chain themselves to the school fence.

By Ginela C. Escala M. forLa Critica - Riot police and students from the Instituto Nacional carried out a pitched battle that lasted for more than three hours yesterday. School Director Carlos Mora was hit by a stone thrown during the skirmish. Classes at the school were suspended indefinitely. The students were practically facing the riot police in hand-to-hand battle. The students had their faces covered and used wooden shields to protect themselves and they threw anything they had available; stones, sticks, furniture from the school, as well as homemade bombs and Molotovs. A tear gas canister fired by police hit student Jaret Ramos in the nose, knocking him out and breaking his nose. The confrontation also caused a fire in a nearby apartment.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this afternoon via email: "Dear Vecinos from the Guanabano Sector, other residents of Clayton, friends from other communities, and friends from the reverted areas: Join the great protest in front of the Defensoría del Pueblo at the intersection of Vía Brasil and Calle 50, tomorrow Tuesday 2 June 2008 starting at 3:30 pm, to protest the recent approval on the part of the National Assembly a law to legalize "retroactively" resolutions issued by the Housing Ministry that illegally changed zoning regulations for the reverted areas since 1997, for example, from a green area that can not be developed to Mixed Residential, in order to permit the construction of tall luxury apartment buildings in areas where nothing could have been built before, and for giving these buildings the luxury of classifying them as being in the "social interest" going against laws from 1991 and 1996 that define what is housing of "social interest." (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just heard on "Drive Time" that there's a protest being conducted by residents from the areas of Albrook and Clayton who are closing the road near the back gates that lead to El Dorado and Friendship highway. They are angry and protesting over recently passed zoning reforms which would allow the construction of high rise buildings in the former Canal Zone, areas that have been "green" since the United States built the Panama Canal. The protesters are angry that they reforms were passed over the objections of area residents, and that the changes were made under a veil of secrecy. Anyway, traffic is screwed up in the area (and this has nothing to do with the bus strike.)

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Meredith Serracin for the Panama America - For a short time a group of bus drivers and owners closed Transístmica near the Los Andes commercial center in protest over rising fuel costs and the implementation of the new Transmóvil transportation system. When they closed the street riot control police came to clear the area, while the protesters took refuge in the parking area of a shopping center. Right now the bus drivers and owners are meeting to decide what actions they will take next. The protest has caused an extraordinary traffic jam for those trying to get into Panama City and the province of Colón.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - So far this seems to be a relatively low-grade strike by a small group of bus owners and drivers. They are concentrated in the Los Andes area of Via Transistmica, and particularly affected are those trying to get to Colon to go to work. The news pack of photographers and camera men covering the strike got direct shots of pepper spray from the riot police. There are only about 20 police officers out there, and they go marching up to the protesters who politely move out of the way, and then go across the road to block the other part. The police don't seem to be arresting anyone right now, and the cops and protesters have about the same number of people. There is at least one bus being used to block part of the road. So, the overview at this point is that it's a small and localized problem that's have a disproportionately large impact, relative to the number of people and protesters involved.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Right now transportation workers (bus owners and drivers) have parts of the city blocked off. They have closed Transistmica near Los Andes and they are not allowing any bus carrying passengers to pass. Riot police have just arrived at the scene are are pushing the protesting drivers aside in an attempt to reopen the road. But, the bus drivers have several buses basically parked in the road, and they have put cement blocks and pieces of wood in the road to prevent vehicles from passing. In any case, now is not a good time to head to Colon if that's what you were planning on doing. Updates as the occur - stay tuned.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

La Prensa - Yesterday protests by a group of students from the University of Panama finished with disturbances and confrontations with riot control units of the National Police. Classes at the university were suspended yesterday. The protests, against rising costs for food and fuel, extended until after 6:00 pm and left two students injured.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This afternoon protesting students from the University of Panama closed Tumba Muerto and Transistmica and exchanged rocks for tear gas with the riot control units of the National Police. Students "captured" a police motorcycle which they first smashed to bits and then pushed back for other police units to recover the wreckage. Police are now moving in, firing tear gas as they go in an attempt to drive the students back onto the University campus and to reopen the main roads. Photos of the action follow: (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just got a heads-up call, it seems that the University of Panama students are out protesting again, right near the area where Via Argentina hits Tumba Muerto near the intersection with Transistmica. Traffic is shut down in all directions. According to one eyewitness report the protesters had reportedly taken a motorcycle cop hostage. More to follow.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

Panama America - With the appearance of a group called the “Frente Artesano Terrorista” (Craftsman Terrorist Front) students from the school of Artes y Oficios of the University of Panama, wearing masks, assaulted passers-by, destroyed automobiles, destroyed bus stops, and vandalized their own school during a protest supposedly to demand improvements to the school. (Photo Credit: Miguel cavalli / EPASA)

By Mirna Ospino for the Panama America - As part of the confrontations today between students from the school of "Artes y Oficios" from the University of Panama and riot police, acts of vandalism were committed by students. Before closing the four lanes of Via Transistmica as part of the protest, the students displayed a violent attitude to the point of assaulting and vandalizing a light 4x4 truck driven by a young person who was terrorized by what happened. According to the students they were protesting to make the Ministry of Education provide then with the materials necessary for them to attend classes and to make repairs to the school that they have been requesting for a long time.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Demonstrating college kids from the "Artes y Oficios" school of the University of Panama have been out this morning exchanging rocks for tear gas canisters with riot police along Via Transistmica near the University of Panama. These are the same guys who were out yesterday for ten minutes. Today they are being more combative, and riot police have responded. The road is now closed. Thanks to the tipster, you know who you are...

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Edgar Enrique Figueroa for La Prensa - Two months after the riots carried out by striking SUNTRACS workers of the Suntracs, resulting in the arrest of more than 50 people and damages estimated at more than $510,000 in Panama City, the Ninth Anti Corruption Prosecutor has only called one person to trial, Virgilio Castillo. The prosecutor's office has called the worker to trial, charging him with crimes against the patrimony and damages to the collective security, and for having caused damages to a vehicle of the National Police Force as well as a warehouse.

By Mirna Ospino for the Panama America - Today protesting students from the "Artes y Oficios" school closed down the four lanes of Via. Simón Bolívar causing a terrible traffic jam. According to the students they were protesting because the ceilings in the school are in bad repair and the shops do not have the materials required for them to work. Luis Powell, director of the school, said they are already working to correct the problems which is why classes will continue as normal. Police riot control units arrived at the scene and removed the students from the streets without further incident.

La Critica - Today there was a strong confrontation between students from the "Instituto Nacional" and riot police along the Ave. de los Mártires which caused the street to be closed for some time. Students were throwing rocks at the riot police who responded with tear gas. The students were protesting because they have asked authorities for several improvements in the installations, and although they accept there has been some work completed they say there is still much to do which is causing them to be annoyed. During the demonstrations students destroyed a back door to a study area where students were taking refuge while throwing rocks at the police.

By Deivis Eliecer Cerrud for the Panama America - The demonstrators asked for indemnification for the victims of public transport. Shouts of "get out" resounded yesterday against the public transportation service that is more of a crisis than a problem. A group of Panamanians protested from the sidewalks along Vía España, showing signs and demanding that Panamanian President Martin Torrijos take control and end the anarchy in public transportation services. Wearing white shirts and dresses and some waving white handkerchiefs as in the times of the I,>"Civilista" movement that removed dictator Manual Noriega from power, the shouted slogans against bus owners. Each bus that passed by was met with "boos" and they shouted to the passengers "get off of the bus and join our fight." Taxi drivers did not escape either - to them then shouted "I don't go there," the same phrase taxi drivers use every day to refuse to take thousands of passengers where they want to go.

Panama, Mar 13 (Prensa Latina) Panamanian farmers, indigenous people and environmental organizations marched Thursday to reject government projects they denounced would affect their communities and the environment. Olmedo Carrasquilla, spokesman for the demonstrating organizations, told Prensa Latina that some organizations from the interior of Panama affected by mining, hydroelectric, oil and residential tourism are taking part in the event. "We have joined efforts to face all those development projects promoted by the government that are violating our rights," he stated. More than 160 representatives from indigenous communities marched toward the Panamanian Interior and Justice Ministry, in the historic sector of Panama City, to present their protest against such projects. The demonstrators arrived in the Panamanian capital on Tuesday evening and camped in Cathedral Park. Carrasquilla said that a three-day activity in defense of the environment and respect for the rights of local communities was being developed this week, including a march to the Presidency of the Republic of Panama.

By Luke Stobart for Socialist Worker - "You were a good son, a good father, a good brother and a good husband. I only hope that you give strength to your brothers and sisters to keep fighting." Those were the emotive words of a grieving mother speaking at the funeral of Al Iromi Smith, a construction worker recently killed by police in Panama. Smith was a 28-year old activist in the Suntracs union in the city of Colón. He was shot in the back by police as he entered hospital after receiving a plastic bullet wound on a demonstration. Suntracs is a radical and relatively strong union of 40,000 members. It had been protesting against the lack of safety on Panama's construction sites – last year 25 construction workers were killed at work. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This morning on the Telemetro 13 news program SUNTRACS leader Saul Mendez challenged the fifteen nationally recognized Panamanian journalists who attended the official state intelligence briefing regarding connections between SUNTRACS and extreme leftist political organizations in Latin America to present the documents "page by page" in order to determine "who is lying." Mendez is thinking the same thing as many other people in Panama - it simply does not make any sense for one Vice President to brief journalists with official state intelligence information, and then six days later to see Panama's First Vice President, Chancellor, and Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis Navarro release an official statement saying that information is false. But, Saul Mendez is making a big mistake... -- (more)

By Julio Villalobos and Alexis Charris Palcios for La Estrella de Panama - Fernardo Bossi, the Argentinean-Venezuelan identified by Panamanian intelligence services as the connection between SUNTRACS and the radical left in Latin America, met with Genaro Lopez and Saúl Méndez in the University of Panama on 22 June 2006. Lopez and Méndez admitted yesterday having met with the Chavista leader Bossi, but they denied SUNTRACS has a plan to destabilize the country using protests and street violence as reported by Panamanian government intelligence. Both Lopez and Mendez denied that SUNTRACS receives financing from leftist international organizations like the Bolivariano Congress of the People directed by Bossi, among others. (more)

El Universal - Panama Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Lewis Tuesday rejected press reports claiming that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was behind the violent protests a major Panamanian construction trade union has been staging in Panama City over the last few days. "There is no information suggesting that the Venezuelan government has an intention to interfere with politics in Panama," said Lewis, AFP reported.