2 years jail law for blocking streets law passes

The, law promising two years in jail for demonstrators who block streets was approved in the National Assembly late last night (April 12) with 40 votes for and, 22 against with no abstentions.
This in spite of reports saying that President Martinelli was set to veto the legislation and one of the ruling coalition members asking that it be returned to second reading.

Panameñista deputy Osman Gomez said the project was excessive and un-constitutional.

The proposal was initially made by Deputy Sellhorn Augustine calling for 12 months in jail and reformulated by ruling party colleague, Mark Gonzalez to two years incarceration.

The opposition deputy Leandro Ávila, described the bill as “disastrous” because it violated human rights, and warned that the state could be brought before th American Court of Human Rights.
Union leaders vowed that the law would not keep them off the streets to protest against government measures.