Request to Panama President
Panama City, July 13th 2010
Ref: We request clarification of the reported events.
Excellency
Mr. Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal
Panama Republic President
Panama City, Panama
Mr. President:
UNI Global Union, representing 20 million affiliates at the International level with 1000 union organisations in 150 countries, condemns the violent police repression against workers who participated in the strike at Bocas del Toro province, in which colleague Antonio Smith lost his life and dozens of workers were wounded and detained.
According to information from National and International media, and press releases from union organisations like Convergencia Sindical (Union Convergence), Confederación de Trabajadores de la República de Panamá (Confederation of Workers of the Panama Republic), as well as SUNTRACS, CONATO, and CONUSI, on July 8th, in the mentioned province, several detentions and acts of repression took place in which at least six people lost their lives, among which two were under age. The police brutal methods of repression against workers who remain on strike in Bocas del Toro province have exceeded all imaginable limits. On the other hand, we have been informed that arrest warrants against union leaders from SUNTRACS and CONATO have been issued.
The violent repression to which banana workers and ACP workers in Colon were subjected, are proof of your government authorities’ intransigence, who refuse dialogue, who impose law 30 which seriously damages fundamental rights like the right to strike and to union freedom as well as punishing workers who carry out public protests with a penalty of up to two years in prison.
The worker Antonio Smith, affiliated to SITRAPBI union from Union Convergence has been the first victim, dead as a result of pellets shot at point-blank range and teargas fired by police forces; this young Panamanian worked at the Independent Property 72 COBANA 30.
On the other hand, the leader Rebeca Barboi, Secretary of Gender Equality of the SITRABANA Union. Affiliated to CTRP is currently hospitalized and in a serious condition after being barbarously hit by police officers.
Figures reported by people of the area reveal that more than 100 people were hospitalized with pellets injuries and injuries produced by blows; they are currently in Changuinola hospital, 18 are in a serious condition awaiting to be transferred to hospitals of nearby provinces.
In Changuinola, 4500 workers from Bocas del Toro Fruit Company were on strike, all of them affiliated to unions represented by CTRP and 700 workers form Independent Properties affiliated to Union Convergence at the moment of the repression.
On Saturday July 10th, several union leaders were surrounded by approximately 1000 police officers while a union meeting was being held at the Soloy Hotel. Among them was Mrs. Damaris Samariego from the Regional Office of the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, together with her one-year-old son.
We have been informed and learnt through mass media that arrest warrants against union and social leaders like Genaro López and Saúl Méndez from SUNTRACS, CONUSI and FRENADESO were issued. Media have also pointed out that the possibility of the suspension of fundamental guarantees must not be ruled out.
Mr. President, facts prove that the situation is deeply worrying.
UNI Global Union condemns all forms of violence and in particular violence unleashed against workers of the Province of Bocas del Toro and Colón ACP, and this is why we demand your government the cessation of repression and police brutality, and the urgent creation of a process of dialogue which may enable to reduce the country’s tension.
In the same way, we demand the necessary investigation process to be carried out in order to clarify the causes of the deaths and the establishment of criminal and administrative responsibilities.
UNI Global Union supports the legitimate request of the Panamanian Labour Movement which demands the repeal of law 30.
UNI Global Union is respectful of the sovereignty of the people, and even if we respect the governments’ decisions, we may not share them. That is why we will remain, together with the international labour movement, in a state of alert and solidarity with Panamanian workers to denounce the acts of violation of freedom of association and expression, before the appropriate international organisations
Sincerely,
Raul Requena
Regional Secretary
UNI Americas