The tense situation in Panama puts social organizations on alert

The People’s United for Life coalition in Panama announced today that it is on high alert in the face of the government’s non-compliance with the complicity of business leaders to solve the old problems plaguing the population.

In a statement to the group, one of the champions of road closures and a general strike last July in protest of the cost of living, it was noted that after 40 days of talks in the central Koukli district, the CEO ended the exchange and opted to lock the table to bring the dialogue to a critical point.

In this sense, the group warned that the current calm generated by the popular movement since the end of July is far from being a sign of demobilization.

The latent conflict can become more intense, to the point that the dialogue table is blocked, and the streets will also be closed, to open up new conflict scenarios, the text indicates.

The declaration also notes that the main culprit for the problems facing Panamanians is the neoliberal economic model, which is supported by market distortions, monopolies and oligopoly, as well as tax evasion that generates exorbitant profit margins for entrepreneurs.

In this sense, the coalition called for joining forces to defend what has been achieved and create the conditions for organization, unity, strength, awareness and struggle to convene an original Constituent Assembly that will transform the country and put an end to social and business injustice. Greed and rotten institutions.

After 40 days of talks, as the text specifies, the parties have reached agreements seeking to provide relief to a dangerous situation, then face a broader scenario of structural problems, the real causes of poverty, inequality and inequality, and social exclusion.

The various groups comprising the coalition emphasized that they did everything in their power to salvage the talks and in this way create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue that would allow an immediate solution to the urgent needs they faced in a second phase.

The day before, a spokesperson for this coalition, Sail Mendez, condemned the Executive’s insistence on accepting debate on the eighth point, the most important on the agenda on the structural problems of poverty and inequality.

Mendez specified that what emerged in these conversations was the government’s unwillingness to attack the interests of the Gamonales, the approximately 115 millionaires who control the country.

He also indicated that no one should doubt that unions, such as the builders’ union he heads, will again use pressure measures, including street closures and blockades, to demand their most legitimate rights.