From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: PANAMA: ARREST OF BUSINESS LEADERS WORSENS CRISIS IN COLON
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 23:21:49 GMT

/** reg.panama: 50.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:Panama: Arrest of Business **
** Written 10:40 am  Aug  9, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.panama **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: IPS:Panama: Arrest of Business

/* Written 12:09 am  Aug  9, 1992 by newsdesk in
cdp:ips.englibrary */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all
rights reserved.  Permission to re- print within 7 days of
original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: PANAMA: ARREST OF BUSINESS LEADERS WORSENS CRISIS IN COLON

an inter press service feature

by silvio hernandez

panama, aug 6 (ips) -- the arrest of some 30 business leaders,
three deputies and two journalists has worsened the crisis in the
the caribbean port of colon, which entered a new phase wednesday
when police clashed with businessmen.

spokespersons for the businesses and transportation union that
called wednesday's general strike, said on thursday it would
continue at least until the prisoners were released.

the strike leaders, who also held demonstrations and blockaded the
main highway entering colon, have demanded that president
guillermo endara declare colon's downtown business district a
''duty free port,'' a measure approved by parliament in late
july.

amongst those arrested on wednesday night were deputies miguel
bush of the opposition revolutionary democratic party, alfredo
elhers, of the christian democratic party, and alonso fernandez,
author of the duty free port proposal, of the ruling national
liberal republican movement (molirena).

leaders from the spanish, jewish and indian communities, as well
as local businessmen, were also taken into custody.

despite, or perhaps in response to, the arrests and orders by
panama's attorney-general rogelio cruz for further police action,
colon greeted the dawn thursay completely paralysed and isolated
from the rest of the country.

for the second consecutive day, dozens of buses and trucks blocked
the only highway into the city.

colon, one of the poorest and most conflictive zones in the
country, was the site of violent protests three months ago, called
by the movement of colon's unemployed (modesco) and the colon
salvation front (csf).

in addition to over 50 percent unemployment, and a severe shortage
of housing and basic services, colon's economic and social crises
have ruined a majority of the small and medium-sized businesses.

many business, civic and labour leaders are convinced that making
colon a duty free port ''is our last resort.''

speaking by phone from his jail cell on thursday, deputy fernandez
said ''i feel very optimistic'' over the possibility of solving
the conflict. (more/ips)
----

panama: arrests (2)

he said that wednesday's strike and protests were ''the decision
of a people that has suffered for many years and is demanding
justice.''

however, modesco leader alfredo allen said that the current
conflict simply pits wealthy business men from colon, who support
the free port proposal, against rich businessmen in the rest of
the country, who would be hurt by the measure.

on thursday, guillermo fernandez, president of the chamber of
commerce, came out against the free port proposal, saying ''it was
not the result of a serious study'' that offers ''an integral
solution to the economic crisis that is affecting the entire
region.''

wednesday's protests in colon coincided with an indefinite general
strike called by banana workers in the eastern caribbean coast
province of bocas del toro.

the banana workers are demanding the construction of a hospital, a
water treatment plant and economic loans.
(end/ips/trd/so/sh-cs/eli/kb/92)
----
** End of text from cdp:reg.panama **

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