Union will oppose imprisonment law for street blockers

SUNTRACS, the construction workers union predictably reacted to legislation that allows  for up to two years jail for blocking steets with demonstrations that turn violent.
Saul Mendez, the union leader said that the new legislation is "unacceptable." "There is no law that can take away the people’s right to protest," he said.
What existed today he said, was an absurd attitude on the part of government authorities who think they can steal the rights of the people. The provision could not prevent people going out to protest.
He said that here in Panama there are no violent protests. "They become violent when the National Police arrived to suppress,"
Mendez said SUNTRACS will remain in the fight and union lawyers are analyzing the constitutional motions to be submitted shortly to the competent authorities.

President Ricardo Martinelli signed off on Tuesday( April13) the law provididing for up to two years in prison for those who close streets violently and cause damage to property, something a few days earlier he had said was excessive.
A similar law, with three years imprisonment was brought in under the Noriega dictatorship, but was repealed when he was deposed.