Police action decried by Panamas Minister of Education

Panama’s Minister of Education, Lucy Molinar has called the action by police officers who besieged the hotel Soloy, on Saturday July 10 to arrest union leaders an “error. 

The hotel was surrounded by armed riot police while union leaders and social activists met to discuss the worsening situation in the country and with spreading protests over the controversial nine in one corizo (sausage) law. It got its “sausage” appellation because the government squeezed changes to the labor codes and other moves, under the guise of a bill to change aviation rules
"President [Ricardo Martinelli] tells me, please solve this. Go out to the people. That was a mistake," the minister said Monday, July 12 on TVN Noticias.
Her remarks are in strong contrast to the “get tough” warnings of Security Minister Raul Mulino who has promised to enforce the jailhouse law against street demonstrators.

The Education Minister had arrived Saturday at the hotel where  the group of activists were gathered and agreed on a general strike.

The minister said there are times when you have to say, ‘look, you made a mistake”. 

Molinar said also that the situation  occurring in the country has political and economic tones and regretted the situation developing throughout Panama. {jathumbnail off}