Staving off return to streets as new alliance demands representation

The dialogue between the three groups of the country’s social sectors and the Executive  will resume on Wednesday evening  August 24, in Penonomé at a time when 150 other associations  are calling for setting up a “national table.”

On  Tuesday, in Santiago, Veraguas, leaders of  The Great National Alliance for Panama said that “the method that is currently being followed”  at the table meeting in Penonomé “does not represent the majority of the country.”

If the “national table” is constituted, they would review the agreements already reached that   “more burden on the country’s productive sector.”

Armando Espinosa, of the National Alliance for the Rights of Organized People (one of the three groups meeting

 in Penonomé), said: “We cannot sit down and talk with someone who is unaware of the agreements of the Government itself.”

After the first phase of the dialogue between the Executive and the representatives of the three groups that led the protests last July, the Grand Alliance proposal emerged: for a “national, inclusive and participatory table.”

In a press conference from Santiago, where the social chaos began that put the Cortizo  government on edge, this group reiterated that “the method that is currently being followed does not represent the majority of the country and is away from a realistic and achievable goal.”

The Alliance rejected “any action of pressure that again affects the right to free transit.”

“Threats cannot be established in a dialogue where solutions are sought,” said Alicia Jiménez, president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Republic of Panama after indigenous leaders walked away from the talks in Coclé  and warned of the possibility of resuming forceful actions in the streets, in case the agreed agreements are not complied with.

In the single dialogue table, the measures adopted by the Government to calm social tension have been based mainly on price controls and marketing margins, subsidies and greater intervention in the marketing chain.

On Sunday, August 21, the leaders of the Bastion of Struggle of the Oriente Chiricano, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé, left the table, alleging non-compliance with the agreements by the Government.

ACADECO sanctions
However, the Executive denies this and assures that the group walked out after the administrator of the Authority for Consumers (ACADECO),  presented a report on sanctions to merchants for violation of the price regulation required in “negotiations for social peace.”

Armando Espinosa, of the National Alliance for the Rights of the Organized People (Anadepo), said that it is not possible to advance to a second phase if the issue of the basic basket and the crisis of the Social Security Fund is not closed.

Regarding the Alliance for Panama, he said that they have never said that other sectors cannot be incorporated and recalled that the first part of the dialogue “had to be exhausted with the popular sectors” represented in the three groups already at the table.

“The alleged Alliance for Panama is made up of business sectors, which said they were unaware of the agreements that the Government made with the alliances.”