Panama: Citizens are ready to take to the streets in defense of their sovereignty

teleSUR English

The Panamanian people are ready to take to the streets in defense of their sovereignty in the face of the imperialist attempts by the U.S. President Donald Trump. Let's see more in the following report by our correspondent Belen de Los Santos.

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00:00The Panamanian people is ready to take to the streets in defense of their sovereignty

00:03in the face of the imperialist attempts by the U.S. President Donald Trump.

00:08Let's see more in the following report by our correspondent Melinda Los Santos.

00:16Panamanians are once again ready to take to the streets in defense of their sovereignty.

00:21After a week in which the government received U.S. officials

00:24and once again yielded to the will of the Trump administration,

00:27allowing increased presence of U.S. military in Panamanian territory,

00:32the major working sectors are coming together to defend the people's resources,

00:37which they understand are being handed over to foreign powers.

00:41Because Panama has a serious problem,

00:44and it is that the mafiocracy that we define as the corrupt oligarchy

00:48that thinks it owns the country, together with its servant politicians,

00:53the traditional politicians and a new generation of politicians,

00:56are dedicated to the plundering and looting of the people's resources,

01:00so there is widespread dissatisfaction in that sense,

01:04and we are facing a problem in which these traitors are finally receiving Rubio.

01:08They are receiving the heads of the Southern Command,

01:11they are receiving CIA agents,

01:13and now the Hegseth,

01:15Secretary of War or Defense of the United States,

01:18has arrived.

01:19They have practically signed memorandums that violate the political constitution,

01:24in its Article 91 and 325.

01:27According to one of the country's main union leaders, Saul Mendes,

01:31documents signed by the Panamanian executive constitute an act against the homeland,

01:36as the constitution states that the president cannot concede national territory in any way to foreign powers,

01:43and that any change regarding the canal's defense should be approved by the Assembly and through a popular consultation.

01:49This context adds to the social discontent regarding the mismanagement of sovereign resources

01:55and the recently approved social security reform that directly affects the working class.

02:01The Panamanian people have always been a peaceful people,

02:10but the people of struggle, who demand respect,

02:12who demand that their fundamental social claims be fulfilled.

02:16In recent periods, we have seen a country where the economy is growing,

02:20but living conditions are very precarious,

02:22the fourth place with the worst distribution of wealth in the world.

02:27This has generated national discontent,

02:30and Panamanians have asked for a canal in favor of the interest of Panamanians,

02:36a canal for the country and not a country for the canal.

02:39And on top of that comes the government of José Raúl Molino,

02:43a reactionary government that calls itself a business government,

02:48but is, above all, in the face of the aggression after Donald Trump became president of the United States,

02:54a submissive government dragged along

02:56that has allowed a series of situations that we Panamanians thought had been overcome,

03:02for example, the military presence of the United States in our country.

03:06As in 2023, when Panama saw massive protests against the expansion of foreign mining in the country,

03:20the political climate in the nation anticipates a new cycle of demonstrations

03:24as the working class is determined to fight against the impositions of a U.S.-aligned government

03:30that prioritizes foreign mandates over its own people.

03:34Unions from different economic sectors are organizing a joint action plan

03:38with a great demonstration set for April 24th,

03:42when a general strike is likely to be announced.

03:44The rejection of U.S. military bases in the country,

03:47as well as the construction of a new dam in Rio Indio,

03:51and the need to repeal the social security law

03:53are the main causes fueling the struggle.

04:00Panama's sovereignty is cared for by Panamanians.

04:03The people have risen up as of Wednesday, April 23rd.

04:07The teachers of this country have announced that we are going to go on a general strike,

04:12and as of April to for TH, after the great national march that we are going to have that day,

04:18it is most probable that a national strike of all other sectors will be announced.

04:27And hence the slogan, this country is not for sale.

04:30This country has been defended, and this is a fact that we have demonstrated

04:34with the blood of Panamanian men and women.

04:36Belen de los Santos, from Panama City, for Tales of English.

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