COLON CRISIS – 400 at funeral of nine year old casualty in Colon

Over 400 people turned up in Colon on Thursday October 25 for the funeral of the a nine year old, the first casualty of the dispute over the adoption of Law 72.

The law allows the sale of land of the Free Zone and its passing has been followed by eight days of protests, first in Colon, and then across the country.

Family and friends, were joined by members of civil society organizations and political and business leaders for the funeral of the boy who was shot on Friday October 19 and was buried in the New Hope cemetery.
When the bill was passed, Sergio Galvez, the President of the National Assembly taunted those who had spoken against it, to mourn in the cemetery. Three people have been killed since the protests started.
 Attendees dressed in white and shouted slogans such as: "Police murderers!", "Justice! "and" Joshua is present " says La Prensa,
 The Free Zone Users Association reiterated its readiness to participate "actively at a table … as the sole vehicle for a speedy solution" to the crisis.
Entrepreneurs recalled that State agencies have "a duty to ensure the environment necessary to keep the peace and to answer the popular clamor and citizens to maintain order and calm necessary for the achievement of the common good. "
"The country cannot stand this another day, so we call for Panamanians to seek the social peace that we all desire and need.
Meanwhile a group Ngäbe-Bugle indigenous closed the trans American route at the San Felix intersection in support of the Colon protestors. who oppose the sale of the land in the Free Zone.
Vice President, Juan Carlos Varela, said on Thursday, October 25 , that President Ricardo Martinelli should have returned to the country, to address the crisis. Currently, the President is in Vietnam. "A country cannot be governed by Twitter," said Varela, adding that there is c a "leadership vacuum in the country." He claimed that some government deputies and ministers of state officials disagree with the Act