Protests in Panama provoked by Trotskyist groups.

[crhomebuilder]

I have a well-educated friend in Panama who has been living and working there for over 4 years, and has a water view condo in the city and farms for sale near David. I asked her what this group was, and she explained, "Trotsky was a Russian communist that differed from Lenin and Marx and broke off. I heard it was real bad in the city. Last night they cleared them all out"

From Wikipedia: Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party. His politics differed sharply from those of Stalinism, most importantly in declaring the need for an international proletarian revolution (rather than socialism in one country) and unwavering support for a true dictatorship of the proletariat based on democratic principles. Numerous groups around the world continue to describe themselves as Trotskyist, although they have diverse interpretations of Trotsky's writings. Trotskyist groups include; CWI • FI(ICR) • ICFI IMT • IST • IWL reunified FI

Panama City, Panama - Construction workers clashed with riot police Wednesday

in several cities in Panama, one day after a worker was shot dead

during a street protest. Television footage showed a group of workers

praying for colleagues injured or dead in the clashes as a police

officer shot tear gas at them. Other footage showed workers throwing

stones, sticks and metal bars at police.

 

Workers waving red flags and banners blocked streets and roads and

shouted slogans against several members of the government.

Thousands of drivers were trapped in the clashes, in which police used

tear gas and pellets.

 

Angry demonstrators barricaded themselves in exclusive areas of Panama

City, where many luxury buildings are being built. Police said in a statement

that riot police "used the level of force required to clear roads and restore order."

 

The protest had originally been summoned by construction sector trade

union Suntracs, which accused the government of carrying out a "dirty

campaign" against trade-union leaders.

 

Panamanian President Martin Torrijos denied the allegations, and on

Wednesday he called upon workers to call off the protests, promising a

probe on the death of worker Iromi Smith.

 

Smith was killed on Tuesday in a clash with police in the city of

Colon, 80 kilometres north-east of Panama City, on the Caribbean.

 

"We have made a call to tolerance and sanity," Torrijos said.

He added that "violence is not the way to put forward demands."

Public Works Minister Benjamin Colamarco denounced that the protests

did not seem spontaneous and claimed they had been provoked by

Trotskyist groups.

 

Protests took place in Panama City, Colon, San Carlos, Rio Hato,

Penonome, Santiago de Veraguas and David, in western Panama, where

workers occupied streets, bridges and other infrastructure elements.

 

The U.S. Embassy would like to alert the American Community to the

following information: Due to the possibility of violent protests

throughout Panama City during morning rush hour, the Consular section,

will delay its opening on Thursday, February 14 to 9:00 a.m. The

demonstrations are in response to the killing of a member of Suntracs,

a construction worker´s union in the city of Colon.

 

For personal security and safety reason U.S. Citizens are therefore

urged to avoid Punta Pacifica/Paitilla neighborhoods of Panama City

and the area around the University of Panama where the demonstrations

will occur. By avoiding these areas you minimize risk and avoid

turning yourself into a potential target as an innocent bystander.

U.S. Citizens should also exercise additional caution at all times

when moving around city.

 

For updated information on the security situation in Panama, please

contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy at

207-7000. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located in

Building 783 (besides the Colegio de las Esclavas), in the Clayton

section of Panama. The Consular Section fax is 207-7278. The Embassy

web site is http://usembassy.state.gov/panama and e-mails should be

address to Panama-ACS@state.gov

[newman]

I have a well-educated friend in Panama who has been living and working there for over 4 years, and has a water view condo in the city and farms for sale near David. I asked her what this group was, and she explained, "Trotsky was a Russian communist that differed from Lenin and Marx and broke off. I heard it was real bad in the city. Last night they cleared them all out"

From Wikipedia: Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party. His politics differed sharply from those of Stalinism, most importantly in declaring the need for an international proletarian revolution (rather than socialism in one country) and unwavering support for a true dictatorship of the proletariat based on democratic principles. Numerous groups around the world continue to describe themselves as Trotskyist, although they have diverse interpretations of Trotsky's writings. Trotskyist groups include; CWI • FI(ICR) • ICFI IMT • IST • IWL reunified FI

Panama City, Panama - Construction workers clashed with riot police Wednesday

in several cities in Panama, one day after a worker was shot dead

during a street protest. Television footage showed a group of workers

praying for colleagues injured or dead in the clashes as a police

officer shot tear gas at them. Other footage showed workers throwing

stones, sticks and metal bars at police.

 

Workers waving red flags and banners blocked streets and roads and

shouted slogans against several members of the government.

Thousands of drivers were trapped in the clashes, in which police used

tear gas and pellets.

 

Angry demonstrators barricaded themselves in exclusive areas of Panama

City, where many luxury buildings are being built. Police said in a statement

that riot police "used the level of force required to clear roads and restore order."

 

The protest had originally been summoned by construction sector trade

union Suntracs, which accused the government of carrying out a "dirty

campaign" against trade-union leaders.

 

Panamanian President Martin Torrijos denied the allegations, and on

Wednesday he called upon workers to call off the protests, promising a

probe on the death of worker Iromi Smith.

 

Smith was killed on Tuesday in a clash with police in the city of

Colon, 80 kilometres north-east of Panama City, on the Caribbean.

 

"We have made a call to tolerance and sanity," Torrijos said.

He added that "violence is not the way to put forward demands."

Public Works Minister Benjamin Colamarco denounced that the protests

did not seem spontaneous and claimed they had been provoked by

Trotskyist groups.

 

Protests took place in Panama City, Colon, San Carlos, Rio Hato,

Penonome, Santiago de Veraguas and David, in western Panama, where

workers occupied streets, bridges and other infrastructure elements.

 

The U.S. Embassy would like to alert the American Community to the

following information: Due to the possibility of violent protests

throughout Panama City during morning rush hour, the Consular section,

will delay its opening on Thursday, February 14 to 9:00 a.m. The

demonstrations are in response to the killing of a member of Suntracs,

a construction worker´s union in the city of Colon.

 

For personal security and safety reason U.S. Citizens are therefore

urged to avoid Punta Pacifica/Paitilla neighborhoods of Panama City

and the area around the University of Panama where the demonstrations

will occur. By avoiding these areas you minimize risk and avoid

turning yourself into a potential target as an innocent bystander.

U.S. Citizens should also exercise additional caution at all times

when moving around city.

 

For updated information on the security situation in Panama, please

contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy at

207-7000. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located in

Building 783 (besides the Colegio de las Esclavas), in the Clayton

section of Panama. The Consular Section fax is 207-7278. The Embassy

web site is http://usembassy.state.gov/panama and e-mails should be

address to Panama-ACS@state.gov

This is obviously the work of Hugo Chavez, translating his revolution into Central America!! This is just the beginning, and if Costa Rica doesn't get the TLC, were really in for it here!!

[crhomebuilder]

Here are a couple of local papers with info on what's been happening.

 

Panama America http://www.pa-digital.com.pa/diario/index.php

and La Prensa http://www.prensa.com/hoy/portada.shtml and then for

those of you who are condemned to reading your news only in English,

The Miami Herald section of La Prensa

http://www.prensa.com/hoy/herald/1264746.html