The employees of the Colon Container Terminal (CCT) plan to walk off the job and go on a general strike on Monday, 15 March 2010, at 12:00 noon, for alleged violations of their rights as dockworkers. Ricardo Brenes, the General Secretary CCT Workers Union, listed a number of irregularities such as the failure to pay benefits, anomalies in work schedules, and the handling of toxic materials without adequate security measures in place to guarantee the health and safety of the port workers. He said they have been negotiating for two weeks with company executives and representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development, because the workers are also owed the payment of Christmas bonuses and pay for good performance in their work areas. Yesterday, CCT worker's representatives met with the Deputy Minister of Labor, Luis Ernesto Carles, who who said he hoped that in the talks they would be able to reach an agreement with both sides so that this important port would not be paralyzed by a strike. In discussing the situation, Raul Villalobos, the Assistant Personnel Manager of the CCT declined to make a statement because it is Evergreen's position to not make statements, while they are trying to resolve the conflict between the port's workers and company managers at the negotiation table. Meanwhile, the Labor Union maintains the call to strike for Monday even though they will continue to negotiate in an attempt to achieve most of their demands, especially with regards to higher salaries. IMPORTANCE - If work at the port is stopped, then the ships arriving cannot be unloaded. (Source - El Siglo)

Editor's Comment: Chances are very good that both sides will reach an agreement before Monday at high noon, and that his strike will never actually materialize. This sounds to me like posturing in order to improve their negotiating position.    

The clash between the Minister of Interior and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino and the Sole Union of Construction Workers and Similar (SUNTRACS), is expanding. Today there were additional reactions from both sides, and it appears that neither side will budge. The incident occurred yesterday when Minister Mulino reiterated to protesting SUNTRACS members he will not allow them to close streets. His warning came a day after clashing with them. Mulino said he recognized the right of people to protest, but reminds them the right to protest ends when they damage the rights of others to use the streets. The reaction from SUNTRACS was swift, from both workers and union leaders, who say they will continue to protest, but the police warned they would act. In recent weeks the SUNTRACS has closed some streets with protests against government measures such as the tax reforms. (Source - TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: Practically every member of the Panamanian security services who carry a gun work for the Minister of Government and Justice. When it comes to street protests and the government's policy on either letting it ride or breaking it up with riot police - that decision generally comes from the Minister of Government and Justice, together with the current president. All of the administrations from the modern post-dictatorship era have had to deal with the SUNTRACS sooner or later. The difference is, the SUNTRACS leadership has been in place for decades and they have a lot of experience, while Jose Raul Mulino is still in his rookie year. The SUNTRACS has been pulling little "lunch time" protests - the workers come down out of the building they are working on during their 20 minute lunch break and they block traffic and wave flags for awhile. By the time the police show up to break it up, the workers have already returned to work and traffic is flowing like nothing happened. The SUNTRACS guys get their picture in the paper, they made their point, and Jose Raul Mulino is left looking like a man who wants to start a fight with a ghost. Anyway, SUNTRACS is always a problem, for whoever is in charge this year.   

A small group of construction workers of the Sole Union of Construction Workers and Allies closed Ave Frangipani this afternoon. The protest began at noon. In responding to the situation, the Land Transit and Transportation Authority advised drivers to use alternate routes. (Source - La Prensa)

SUNTRACS Lunchtime Mini Protests: The construction workers who are members of the SUNTRACS labor union like to pull these little "mini" lunchtime demonstrations from time to time. They get a short break in the middle of the day for lunch, so they will all come down out of the building they are working on, waving red flags, and block traffic for about ten to fifteen minutes. By the time the police respond the demonstration is over. They made their point, so they just go back to work. Traffic gets screwed up a little bit but it dissipates quickly once the mini-strike is over. They do these just to remind the government that they have workers spread out all over the city and if they wanted to they could cause real havoc. Striking, protesting, and blocking roads are their primary weapons.   

Riot control units of the National Police moved in to disperse inhabitants from the neighborhood of Nuevo San Juan who were protesting and who had blocked Via Transistmica for more than three hours. They were protesting the poor condition of the roads that lead to their community. Five people were arrested in the conflict, and one of the police officers suffered a hand injury. The protesters say the road has been deteriorating for years and they had been promised it would be repaired. (Source - Panama America)    

Those who formed the "Civilian Crusade" more than twenty years ago to demonstrate against the military regime gathered Wednesday outside of the offices of the Attorney General of Panama near Parque Porras to complain about the situation that prevails in the country, and especially the suspension of Ana Matilde Gomez from office. The protest started at 4:30 pm and lasted for two hours. The participants, who were dressed in white, said the main purpose of the demonstration is to defend democracy in the country. Among the protesters were politicians and lawyers among others, and as background music the old song used during protests against Manuel Antonio Noriega, "speak people speak" was being played. The group's leaders said their activities would continue. (Source: TVN Noticias)   

Early this morning more than 115 truck drivers known as "smurfs" closed the Inter American Highway for more than three hours, near the entrance of Vía de Gualapa, in the province of Chirquí. The truck drivers blocked the road and demanded that government authorities respond to their requests to reassess the new weight limits set for the types of trucks they drive. When the negotiations failed the truck drivers faced off violently with riot police. The police sub commissioner for the zone said they were forced to call in the riot control police because the protesters were blocking the Inter American Highway which is used by thousands of people every day. Two people were arrested in the resulting confrontations. Although the protesters retreated at about 10 am, they remained in the area of the ATTT at noon as a form of pressure in an attempt to get a response to their demands. On Saturday, the Director of the Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT), Jorge Ricardo Fabrega, will meet with the protesters. The drivers hope that the dialog with transit authorities will give them the desired results so that they might be able to continue working as truckers. The new weight limits mean they can only carry 75 bags of rice (each weighing 100 kilograms) where before they could carry 120 or 130 in one trip. Simultaneously with this protest, truck drivers who carry fruits and vegetables closed the Inter American Highway at the weighing station in Pesé. (Source: La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: How many times have you seen a truck dangerously overloaded in Panama? It happens all the time. I believe they are talking about bags of rice which weigh 100 kilograms each. 75 of these bags would be 7,500 kilos or more than 16,000 pounds. And that's the new limit. The truck drivers say they used to carry as many as 130 bags, or more than 28,000 pounds. The answer is really quite simple - each of these trucks leaves the factory with a maximum safe load rating. Establish the weight limits based on what the trucks are designed to carry. How hard is that? When the loaded truck pulls into the weighing station you check to see how much it weighs and compare that to the rated weight for that particular make and model of vehicle. If it's over the rated weight, write the fine.   

(CNN) -- Protests over media freedom continued in Venezuela Tuesday, a day after two student protesters were killed in separate clashes. Student leaders opposed to cable operators' decision to drop five television channels, including an opposition station, for failure to follow broadcast laws pleaded for an end to the violence at a demonstration in front of the state-run broadcaster. Also Tuesday, the Interior Ministry designated four investigators to look into the shooting deaths of the two students in the western state of Merida. The protests stem from the suspension of cable station Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) and five other stations over the weekend. The stations were pulled from the air because they did not broadcast a speech by President Hugo Chavez, as required by national broadcast laws. Protesters say that the suspension of RCTV, known for its anti-Chavez slant, was provoked by the Chavez government. The Chavez government had already pushed RCTV off of public airwaves in 2007 for similar violations. Then, as now, his opponents saw politics behind the move. The street protests this week produced confrontations with police and Chavez supporters, but have been more widespread. Photos from a weekend national baseball series showed many fans in the crowd wearing red bandanas over their mouths in protest.

According to the preliminary investigation, a 16-year-old student was killed during an altercation in Merida Monday night, the state-run Bolivarian News Agency reported. The teen was identified as Yosinio Carrillo Torres. In a second incident in Merida, just before midnight, another youth, Marcos Rosales Suarez, was shot when a group of unidentified gunmen fired into a crowd of protesters. "We applied the law," Chavez said in a speech over the weekend. "If they don't follow it, they won't be allowed back on the air." Many press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have urged Chavez to allow the stations back on the air right away. "Pulling a television station from cable and satellite distribution because it chooses not to carry every word uttered by a politician would be laughable if this weren't Venezuela," Carlos Lauria, CPJ's senior program coordinator for the Americas, said in a statement. "The action against RCTV is a disturbing sign of the growing censorship imposed by President Hugo Chavez. The authorities must restore all stations to subscription TV immediately." The Venezuelan embassy in the United States released a statement challenging the way the RCTV incident was being portrayed, citing "distortions in U.S. press coverage." "Once again an administrative sanction against media outlets that have failed to comply with broadcast laws are painted as measures against the political views expressed in their programming with the goal of attacking the democratic legitimacy of the Venezuelan government," the statement said.

The cable stations were aware of the laws and chose not to follow them, the Venezuelan government said. "This is not a discriminatory nor arbitrary measure," the statement said. In other developments in Venezuela, the president of state-owned Banco de Venezuela, Eugenio Vazquez Orellana, announced his resignation Tuesday. The resignation follows two other high-level resignations from Chavez's upper ranks. Over the weekend, Venezuela's vice president and defense minister Ramon Carrizalez, and minister for the environment Yuviri Ortega, also resigned.

Editor's Comment: The beginning of the end for Chavez? I've been waiting for the people of Venezuela grow a pair of balls, get tired of his ugly ass, and throw him the hell out of power. Maybe this is their chance. Hey, wait a minute - if Hugo Chavez is tossed out of power then all of those thousands of really nice Venezuelan millionaires who have moved to Panama might go back home, taking their money with them. Well, if it's for the greater good, then alright. But no kidding, if Hugo Chavez is tossed out on his ass there will be a hit taken in the Panamanian real estate market. On the other hand, if Hugo Chavez manages to weather this storm and remain in power, and as he continues to convert Venezuela to the Cuba of our times, then even more Venezuelans will flee to Panama before he erects the "Caracas Wall." Can you tell? I hate that friggin' guy. I hope they drag him into the street, tie him down, and feed him to a pack of pissed-off Chihuahuas.    

MODESCO said they have ended their truce with the government. "We ended the truce with the government, and now comes war with the government," said the leader of MODESCO, Charles Best, during a protest in the city of Colón. "Watch to see what we will see, watch to see us throwing stones, because this government has only filled their mouths by talking about the things that will come to Colón but we have not seen anything, added Best. The group demands the return of leaders who were dismissed, and jobs for about 1,000 people from Colón. (Source: La Critica)

Editor's Comment: MODESCO is the Movement of Unemployed People of Colón. I've seen news footage from several of their street protests on television, and every time I'm left thinking "there's no way I would ever hire any of those people to do anything." And of course the timing is interesting. The day after Panama's Anti-Corruption Czar files an official complaint against the Mayor of Colón and the entire Municipal Council of Colón alleging corruption, MODESCO declares war on the government. Go figure. Golly, do you think the two are related? Anyway, you don't get jobs by protesting in the street. The guys who will get jobs are avoiding this nonsense and spending their energies studying and improving themselves and their resumes to be ready for the next opportunity that presents itself. And look what these people are asking for - they want the government to "appoint" about 1,000 people to government jobs, to basically get paid for doing nothing. Wonderful. Great plan. Hey, good luck with that guys.   

If they don't receive a satisfactory response by next Wednesday, the group of taxi drivers who met today with representatives of Panama's Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) threatened they would block all of the streets of the capital city. The taxi drivers left the meeting unsatisfied, because according to Julio de Leon, of the National Federation of Taxi Drivers (Fenacota) by the end of the meeting they were not given answers to their requests, which included a request for a grant to paint their cars yellow. Those drivers who have failed to comply with the requirement to paint their cars yellow say they don't have the money to paint their cars, while others argue that the banks and finance companies won't allow them to paint their cars because do to so reduces the value of the property. For his part, Deputy Minister of Government and Director of the Ground Transit and Transportation Authority, Jorge Ricardo Fabrega, has repeatedly stated that there will be no more delays or extensions, and that the taxi drivers have no excuse for not complying with the regulations. (Source: Panama America)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - These violent street protests by a handful of idiot university kids is still one of the things the government of Panama tolerates. To me, it's silly to see the Riot Control Units of the National Police standing outside of the fences of the university, firing plastic pellets and tear gas into the campus, but for some dumb-ass reason they are prevented from actually entering the campus to arrest the people who are trying to kill them. Ever had a Molotov Cocktail thrown at you? If so, then you understand that the person doing the throwing is trying to set you on fire in order to kill you. It's one thing to gather, congregate, protest, hold up signs, chant slogans, or whatever. But it's comically routine that these kids will block the road, then the police will respond, then the kids will fall back into the grounds of the campus, and then the police will not go in to arrest them. I would like to see about 500 police officers storm the campus and arrest each and every one of these idiots the next time they do this - and to have punishments applied according to their acts of aggression. Of course, they should be expelled from the university for good. The grand majority of the students who go there do not participate in these stupid little demonstrations that receive absolutely zero outside support from the general population at large. They are, in fact, nothing more than a tradition of having to spend an afternoon or two throwing rocks at the police - kinda' like "gym" or "art." I've watched these things play out dozens of times, and every time it happens Panama takes an economic hit in terms of lost time and productivity. I just wonder, how long will this crap be tolerated? It's not free speech if the guy isn't talking, but trying to take a police officer's life.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Jose Vasquez - Chiriqui, for La Critica - President Ricardo Martinelli denied that Panama is going to establish military bases from another country. "There will be no military bases, that is someone's invention that it's being done, but these will be bases for the Panamanian police," he said in the province of Chiriqui. The president's remarks came in response to the demonstrations held yesterday by a group of students from the University of Panama. Referring to the alleged differences between the Mayor of Panama City, Bosco Ricardo Vallarino, and Deputy Mayor Roxana Mendez, he said Mendez told him she wanted to work on social projects. The president reiterated, "Roxana Mendez has my support, my appreciation, and we are looking for a way to incorporate her into our team." In another area, when asked about the statements he made a few weeks ago hinting at possible changes in his cabinet, he said there will be rotations but they have not yet become effective. The President made his statements on Wednesday night as part of the inauguration of the new hotel Ciudad David whose investment exceeds $8 million dollars.   

By YURETH WALLS for La Estrella - Members of the Sindicato Único Nacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción y Similares (Suntracs) closed all four lanes of Ave. Balboa at noon, according to Telemetro. The protesters, waving banners and shouting slogans, were demanding justice for the deaths of construction workers, particularly in the case of union activist Osvaldo Lorenzo which occurred in 2007 during construction of the Panama-Colon highway. The protest today joins those made on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 November at other busy spots in the capital. On Monday SUNTRACS temporarily closed the Ave 12 de Octubre, while yesterday, Tuesday, they protested by closing the road to leading to the Centennial Bridge demanding safety and justice for their organization. The closure caused a traffic congestion on nearby roads in the sector.   

La Prensa - Classes at the University of Panama (UP) were suspended this morning due to the disturbances that have been occurring in front of the central campus, next to Via Transístmica. The Chancellor of the UP, Gustavo Garcia de Paredes, told RPC radio that classes had been suspended. Riot Control Unites from the National Police arrived at the scene to disperse students who had closed two lanes of the roadway. At the scene there were clashes between university students and police. The protesters said they were protesting to reject the installation of four aero-naval bases in the country. There is a huge traffic jam on Via Transístmica so drivers are taking alternate routes.   

TVN Noticias - Members of the FER 29 were dispersed by riot police while protesting on Transistmica, in front of the University of Panama. The university students closed the road on three occasions, but after the third and final time they were attacked by riot police and they retreated to the campus, from where they continued to throw bricks and stones. The authorities reported the confiscation of one gallon of gasoline that the students had, plus the arrest of six people, including five minors and one university student. The university students were protesting over rising costs of living, the high price of fuel, and the installation of alleged US air bases in Panama. (Editor's Comment: Protesting in the streets is a rite of passage for university students. They haven't had much to complain about lately so they roll out inflation as their cause, together with the "air bases" which isn't real anyway. They can shut down the road and screw up traffic for a few hours, but they're basically harmless. They're clueless, too, but no surprise there - I guess that's why they're going to college, to learn something, right? Whatever...)   

Panama America - Willing to continue their fight, members of the National Mobilization of Indigenous, peasant and popular, protested in front of the U.S. Embassy in Panama in opposition to American mining companies have taken over parts of their land. The group is scheduled to travel to Cathedral Square to visit the Naso indigenous and peasants who have been holding a hunger strike since midday Saturday to demand to speak to President Martinelli in person. This group arrived yesterday in Panama City, after 20 days of sun, rain, and hours of walking that began last Sept. 17 in the province of Chiriqui. (Editor's Comment: US mining companies? From what I know all of the companies are either Canadian or Panamanian.)   

La Prensa - The Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) reported that students from the National Institute who participated in Monday's protests might have been manipulated. The above is the conclusion of a commission comprised of the Academic Vice Minister of Education, Reymundo Hurtado Lay, the Vice Rector of Campus Imelda Guerra, the regional director of education for the Panama Central region Pedra Serracín, and parents. The commission said through a press release that "there could be manipulation of students" from the National Institute. According to the press release the protesting students caused damage worth about $450 to the school. Hurtado Lay said "we will not rest until we know who is behind these protests."   

La Estrella - Workers, students, professionals and Hondurans living in Panama plan to hold a protest this week on Thursday, 8 October 2009, a protest and demonstration outside the Embassy of Honduras in Panama. The protest will demand the return to power of ousted President Manuel Zelaya and an end to the political crisis of that Central American nation. Organizers expect a massive turnout, according to statements made to KW Continente.   

DIAaDIA - The Avenida de los Mártires (Avenue of the Martyrs) has become a battlefield where students from the National Institute are facing off against riot control units from the Panamanian National Police. High School students closed the road to protest the resignation of Abel Ceballos and the designation to his post of the Vice Rector of the campus, Enelda Guerra.   

Panama America - The demonstrations are held at all entrances to the island of Colon. Residents and businesses on Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro closed all access routes to the community, this time including maritime access. According to the complainants the needs of the residents and merchants are not being met, there is a lack of clean water, together with the failure to repair the streets, has pushed the protesters to impose these measures to increase pressure. They added there is no medicine at the hospital nor medical personnel to serve the community. The demonstrators will maintain their protest until dawn in an attempt to find a solution.

Editor's Comment: This sounds more like a "blockade." Has the work on the airport already started? If so, then shutting down water access to Isla Colon would have an even greater impact.   

From: Panama, ACS Subject: Possible Protest at the Embbasy on Monday, October 5, 2009 Date: Friday, October 2, 2009, 12:04 PM To: U.S. Embassy Warden System Subject: Possible Protest at the Embassy on Monday, October 5, 2009 Dear Wardens: Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your area. Thank you. U.S. citizens are advised that the U.S. Embassy has received information that there may be a protest occurring at the embassy on Monday, October 5. Therefore, Americans who do not urgently need embassy services are advised to avoid coming to the embassy on Monday. If you must come to the embassy and notice a large crowd outside the main gates, please continue driving and do not attempt to enter the compound, as the gates will be locked. We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

For updated information on the security situation in Panama, please contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy at 207-7030. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located in Clayton, Building 783, in the Clayton section of Panama. The Consular Section fax is 207-7303. The Embassy web site is http://panama.usembassy.gov/ and e-mails should be addressed to Panama-ACS@state.gov. After hours and emergency phone number: 207-7000 or 207-7200.   

La Prensa - A total of 37 students from the National Institute (IN) were arrested this afternoon after they clashed with riot control units of the National Police. The protesting students closed down the Avenida de los Mártires today at noon and threw rocks and other objects at the police officers who responded to the scene. The Regional Director of Education of Panama Center, Petra Serracin, negotiated with the students who had barricaded themselves on campus. Serracin said the students were complaining about some supposed "poor treatment" they had received from a teacher. Also, she said, the students are upset because, according to them, they have not been refunded the money they had paid for an identification card. The rector of the school, Abel Ceballos, requested that the Regional Director of Education conduct an investigation to determine if there are other unknown reasons causing the students to protest.   

La Critica - About one hundred Venezuelans living in Panama today joined the protest held in cities around the world against Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez. The protesters gathered in a small square of the coastal strip next to the Bay of Panama, where they held placards and chanted slogans against the Chavez government. "Chavez Respect! In Panama We Are United For Venezuela!" "No More Chavez" "Venezuela needs freedom" and "Chavez Get Out" were some of the banners made by the demonstrators, who ended their demonstration, which lasted about one hour, by singing the national anthem of Venezuela. Luis Delgado, a former employee of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, one of the organizers of the action in Panama, told Acan-Efe that the activity sought to show discontent with President Hugo Chávez and his "undemocratic" system of government. "We all know the undemocratic spirit of this gentleman and we do not want this to continue in Venezuela," he said. For his part, Venezuela's ambassador in Panama, Jorge Luis Duran said at a news conference today that the demonstration was part of a campaign of irregular warfare organized by the United States. "Within the plans of the U.S. government a phase of irregular warfare has already been activated, which has to do with psychological effects and media campaigns through the press," he said, adding that the goal is of this plan is to "put an end to the new socialist thinking that has been growing in the continent ". The marches, organized from Colombia against the Venezuelan president, were held today in more than 100 cities in about 30 countries around the world, and was born as an initiative by four Colombian youth groups in response to a statement made by Chavez, accusing Colombians.   

By Marggie Trejos for El Siglo - The pay increases for the Public Forces is considered to be one of the most important acts so far for Ricardo Martinelli, because they will confront the issue of security in Panama. During an interview on the program Debate Abierto on Sunday morning, the president said the security forces must be given more resources and a police officer might earn only $380 per month while a construction assistant might earn $500. "The self-esteem of the police force is very low and we see disheartened police force, we have to raise the self esteem and give resources to the police," he said. The president also regretted having to make the decision to fire 25 members of the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ), who went to protest to the presidency. "They were going to get the pay increase, but discipline must prevail," he said. There is no going back, because the police forces, as an element of security, is based on discipline and if you allow acts of insubordination the you can lose everything. Martinelli also spoke about the case of former Education Minister Belgis Castro, and he said the weight of the law has dropped on him, without Martinelli having to interfere as others might think. And what's more besides this case they found all other kinds of shameful acts and embezzlement that occurred during the last administration, and that they didn't steal the herons from the presidential palace because they are loud and they make too much noise. In the dispute between the Solicitor General Ana Matilde Gomez and anti-corruption czar Fernando Nuñez Fabrega, the president said he does not know how the the differences between these two started, but all he wants is for the Attorney General to enforce the law and to not have fear of anyone. While Mr. Fernando Nuñez Fabrega was given a number of powers to investigate each case, but logically, the final investigation must end in the office of the Attorney General, and the anti corruption czar is one more contributor who can help gather information and then turn it over.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (362 words)

By Diomedes Sanchez S. for La Prensa - Colon - The merchants of the Colon Free Trade Zone announced they would close all entrances and paralyze freight shipments on 2 September 2009 as a measure of protest. These measures were agreed upon at a general meeting after the government of President Ricardo Martinelli announced tax increases for users of the Colon Free Zone. Giovanni Ferrari, president of the Association of Users of the Free Zone, said that day, during which they called "reflection," there will be a work stoppage in which employees, even though they will be required to report to their jobs, will not attend buyers. For his part, Oscar Grenald, the freight transportation coordinator, said the support will be unrestricted. Grenald also said freight shipments will be halted.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (155 words)

TVN Noticias - The 25 officers who used to work for the Department of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) have filed a "motion for reconsideration" with the National Police, asking to have the disciplinary measure imposed against them left without effect. Reports obtained by TVN-News say the former DIJ detectives went to the facilities of the institution to be officially notified of their dismissal. Those affected by the disciplinary action say they will exhaust all possible recourses of appeal as they seek to have the authorities reconsider the measure, which left them unemployed for having publicly demonstrated their disagreement for allegedly not being included in the new pay hikes recently announced for police officers. Last week, the Director of the National Police, Gustavo Perez, decided to fire the 25 DIJ detectives, and to send another 25 on vacation, saying they undermined security by participating in a protest to demand wage increases.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (200 words)

By Grisel Bethancourt and Carlos Estrada Aguilar for La Critica - The 25 officers who were fired from their positions in the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) has generated contradictions in the ranks of government. Although the Director of the National Police, Gustavo Perez, says he will not back away from his decision to fire the officers, Panama's Vice President Juan Carlos Varela and Ombudsman, Ricardo Vargas, say the issue should be reassessed. Yesterday lieutenants Octavio Nicolau and Julio Alonso, accompanied by the President of the Human Rights Commission of the National Bar Association, Carlos Herrera Morán, were not received at the Palace of the Herons by any representative of the government, and they spent three hours standing at the gates located next to the Cathedral Park. Those affected sought to deliver a letter to President Ricardo Martinelli in order to demand their reinstitution and to have their just claims for a wage increase be respected. This newspaper learned that on Thursday meetings were held with mediators spoke with government officials. For their part, the Association of Social Security Employees rejected the dismissal of the investigators, saying it violated their human rights contained in Convention 87 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which recognizes the right of police and armed forces to organize. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela said the government approved salary increases to all security officers and the DIJ were included in that increase. "I think these guys were too quick to implement a work stoppage measure, but the Government is always willing to mediate any conflict," said Varela. For the Vice President it is a reality that all members of the security forces will see an increase in their wages, although he said he respects the decision. "The government can not be closed to dialogue on any issue," he said. Meanwhile, Panama's Ombudsman Ricardo Vargas thinks the decision to dismiss the 25 DIJ officers was taken in haste. In the first instance sanctions should have been imposed before the officers were dismissed. For Vargas, in the same way that the dismissed SPI officers who provided protection services to David Murcia officers were returned to service, the DIJ officers deserve to be treated. (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (791 words)

TVN Noticias - The Director of Panama's National Police, Gustavo Pérez, confirmed on TVN AM News that 25 officers of the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) were dismissed from their jobs for having participated in a protest at their headquarters to demand an increase in their salaries. The Constitution is very clear and they cannot suspend their work to demand a wage increase, said Perez who also clarified that the DIJ agents were not excluded from the salary increases recently announced by President Ricardo Martinelli. They have to respect the chain of command and they cannot assume such postures, and even less the type of protest they held yesterday, which is why it was decided to remove them from their positions because these types of actions which could threaten state security cannot be permitted. All of them were going to have their salaries adjusted in the same way as the rest of the officers of the National Police, therefore this action is not warranted, and Perez acknowledged discipline must be maintained and the country can not left without security. "They freely decided to take that road which was not justified, because none of them can take action to protest," he warned. Perez said that while they were protesting, the remaining police officers were providing security to citizens and it must be acknowledged with respect. (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (65 words)

Panama America - More than 9,000 public school teachers who work in the most remote areas of the country threatened to go on a 24 hour strike next Monday. Their protest comes after a teacher who worked in the province of Veraguas lost her life when she was overtaken by a flash flood while trying to cross a river. A representative for the teachers told TVN News this morning they have been complaining about the difficulties the face when simply trying to get to work for many years, and very often they put their lives at risk.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (96 words)

Panama America - This morning a group of officers from the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) conducted a peaceful protest to demand an adjustment in their pay scale. Inspectors and detectives of the DIJ say the decision to put them under the control of the National Police has not benefited them at all, and the proof is that they were not included in the newly approved wage increases paid to the police. Lawyer Carlos Herrera Morán, the legal representative of the DIJ agents, said the resolution that establishes the wage increases for the police officers must be reformed. The protesters called upon president Ricardo Martinelli to adjust the pay of all DIJ officers, and to not discriminate against them. The lawyer also condemned alleged threats against units of the DIJ who participated in the protest. For his part, the director of the National Police, Gustavo Perez, said the bylaws of the DIJ does not allow their officers to strike or protest, which is why he is evaluating the penalties those to ignore the law might face.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (204 words)