Charges against protesting farmers withdrawn

Agricultural producers have vowed to continue their protests across the country until they get a meeting with President Juan Carlos Varela to press their case for the reduction of imports and had demanded that charges against participants in an earlier demonstration be dropped have had one of their requests granted.

Getting to meet with President Varela might be more difficult. He is currently focused on World Youth Day (WYD), January 22-27 and the visit of Pope Francis and heads of state from multiple countries.

The Minister of Agricultural Development, Eduardo Enrique Carles, reported that on Tuesday. January 15  he went to the Chitré Prosecutor’s Office to stop the investigation against several producers, arising from the demonstrations and confrontations in Divisa on December 18. Angry protesters shouting abuse surrounded the minister’s car and prevented it from leaving.

“Reiterating the commitment agreed on Thursday, January 10, 2018, and in search of preserving social peace and national conciliation with producers, I went to the Prosecutor’s Office to express the intention, on behalf of the Panamanian State to not continue with the investigation, “said Carles, in a statement.

This will allow continuing “with the open dialogue with the producers and work in unity for the good of all Panamanians,” Carles added. added.