[CTC] FTAs as an imperial economic-military grand design

[Andrew Gussert]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION

ITUC OnLine

104/120710

Wave of anti-union repression in Panama

Brussels, 12 July 2010 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC, together with its affiliated
organisations in Panama,  firmly condemns the violent repression of the
strike movement by workers in the Bocas del Toro Province that has resulted
in killings, more than 100 people injured and at least 300 arrests.

According to information received by the ITUC, several acts of repression
took place on 8 July in the Province, in which six people lost their lives.
These unacceptable acts were targeted against banana workers and
construction workers from the Panama Canal in Colón.  Leaders of the
SUNTRACS and CONATO trade unions were arrested.

The striking workers were protesting against the decision by the Government
of Panama to impose Law 30, which undermines fundamental rights, such as the
right to strike and freedom of association.  Law 30 also penalises workers
who take their protests to the streets, an offence which can result in up to
two years in prison.

According to the latest news, the government has called a cabinet meeting,
which is expected to adopt further repressive measures, such as arrest
warrants against specific trade union leaders.  The suspension of
fundamental rights is also a possibility.

In a letter to the Panamanian authorities
http://www.ituc-csi.org/panama-represion-y-asesinatos.html?lang=es   ,  the
ITUC urges the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, to take concrete and
urgent measures to ease the tension in the country and order an
investigation into the deaths to find out how they happened as quickly as
possible, identify those responsible and apply the relevant penal and
administrative measures.

The ITUC, together with its affiliates in Panama and its regional
organisation for the Americas, TUCA,  demands the immediate repeal of the
controversial Law 30, which has become a licence to kill for the police,
creating a climate of extreme violence that led to the events of 8 July and
the persecution of the Bocas del Toro banana and construction workers.

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 155 countries and territories and
has 312 national affiliates.  <http://www.ituc-csi.org/>
http://www.ituc-csi.org  y  <http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI>
http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI     

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on + 32 2 224
02 04 or  + 32 476 62 10 18        

 

 

 

 

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