Pressenza Pressenza International Press Agency Panama, 21/10/09 The organizations composing the National Front for the Defense of Social and Economic Rights in Panama (FRENADESO), expressed their rejection of the plan driven by the Government of Ricardo Martinelli.

According to the Minister of Government and Justice, José Raúl Mulino, the agreement to install United States military bases in Panama could be signed on 30th October.

Saúl Méndez, Coordinator of the National Board of FRENADESO, stated that for Panamanians, the installation of US military bases under the guise of the so-called fight against narcotrafficking “is unacceptable”.

“It is unacceptable for this nation, which had to face up to the most powerful army in the world in order for it to hand over our territory, and we were integrating it into one whole nation, that now renowned traitors want to negotiate a new North American military presence”, declared Mendez.

In his turn, Andrés Rodríguez, Secretary General for the Association of Teachers of the Republic of Panama (ASOPROF) emphasized the importance of not repeating the mistakes of the past. “We have been liberating ourselves little by little from the decisions that the US Government takes concerning Panamanian Governments, we won’t let history repeat itself”.

Rodríguez called on the Panamanian people to demand explanations from the Government concerning this plan and to express their rejection of it: “We have the right to self-determination in our own territory; we have the right to decide about our own territory”.

(Translation provided by Rupert Spedding)