Controversial bill heading for the garbage box

Panama’s National Assembly  sat through a marathon all night session on Saturday October 27,  before  giving a unanimous second  reading  to a bill to repeal  a law  that led to  nine days of protests, three deaths,  vandalism, and looting.

The demonstrations  finally  led to the virtual  shut down of the the capital city.

 Bill 72, which was  created and  passed by the  majority ruling Democratic Change party,  allowed the sale of land in the Colon Free Zone ( ZLC). It  was opposed by multiple groups including business organizations, workers, unions, and civil liberty associations

The second debate, began shortly after midnight and  the voting ended at 8:43 am ith 57 votes in favor and no abstentions

The third debate will begin at 12:01 am on Sunday, October 28 and submitted to the executive  on the same day. 

Meanwhile,  Panameñista  deputy   Miguel Salas announced the creation of a commission to  investigate the events in Colon.

Salas said that the committee would include members  human rights organization, to clarify what happened in the protests against Law 72.

PRD deputy Rogelio Paredes said Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli  had "not understood" the unanimous message of the Panamanian people: “no means no”

He recalled the aftermath left by the imposition of the "sausage law" adopted by the Martinelli government with the support of Panameñistas, and the  mining law, with its consequent deaths, injuries and arrests.

After receiving multiple Twitter messages from  President Martinelli inthe midst of an Asian tour,   The National Assembly rushed , to start proceedings to to repeal Act 72   which created nation wide  protests ,looting, vandalism and street closures in the capital.

The actions left three dead,  six injured and 202 arrested.

 Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama estimated that the protests of the past nine days caused losses of between $30 million to $40 million.

On Friday night, October 26, Panama City was like a ghost town with  malls  and many restaurants closed following afternoon looting and vandalism in Calidonia and Plaza Cinco de Mayo.