Union leader claims return of military dictatorship tactic

Panama’s government is using tactics used by Panama’s military dictatorship and now being used by the Venezuelan government, says a union leader.
Guillermo Puga says the government should be held accountable for a clash between pro-government supporters and protesters on Calle 50 on Thursday (August 19.)
Puga said that the unions and civic organizations had planned a protest march along Calle 50 to show their opposition to government policies and the deaths of two people in Bocas del Toro in anti-government protests.
But the marchers, encountered a group of supporters of the government who were calling for an investigation into allegedly false claims made by government opponents about the disappearance of Valentín Palacio.

Puga said that the tactics employed by the government, including allowing government employees to march in support of the government, is exactly the same tactic used by the government of Venezuela to thwart opposition and was used by the government during Panama’s military dictatorship.