Colon may renew strike that led to looting

A Call for a possible renewal of the strike in the province of Colon despite the fact that there is a dialogue in which ministers of State participate. is “regretted” by Panama’s government

Minister of the Presidency, Álvaro Aleman, on Sunday, April 8,  emphasized the commitment of the government of maintain the dialogue in Colón as ” the method of resolving conflicts “. and reiterated the availability of the Executive keep the dialogue in Colón so as not to disturb public order.

Aleman was referring to incidents that took place on March 13-14, following peaceful protest marches to underline local concerns over incomplete renewal projects. Some stores and warehouses were looted.

The general strike was called by different organizations to request solutions for the province. Marches were carried out to denounce corruption and the living conditions of  Colonenses.

On March 19, with the mediation of the Catholic Church, a dialogue table was established seeking to avoid confrontations.

Alemán said that this is “a government of dialogue, willing to seek consensual solutions,

but it cannot be allowed that through pressures the majorities are affected “.

The Committee for the Salvation of Colon said that on  Monday, April 9  it will announce at a press conference the actions to follow. We cannot rule out a call for a general strike like the one that occurred between March 13 and 14. The members of the committee have asked the Government to formalize by decree the dialogue tables for Colon.