Popular movements in Panama released a letter on Monday (3) denouncing what they call the “humiliating” stance of the Panamanian government towards Donald Trump's administration. In a document signed by the National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (FRENADESO), Panamanians question President José Raúl Mulino's measures to seek closer ties with the United States.
According to the group, the president is behaving like the “governor of a Yankee colony.” The movements point out that the measures recently taken by the Panamanian government have made the country 'bend over backwards for' the White House. Among these measures, the group denounces the presence of US military bases in Panamanian territory, along with a center that includes both a port and an airport for the military.
The group highlights that the government has also agreed to receive immigrants deported by the US, regardless of their nationality, and accuses Mulino of handing over Pacific ports and airports to the United States.
The text also mentions a rumored break in relations with China. However, the Panamanian government has not yet severed ties with Beijing but recently announced its withdrawal from the Chinese infrastructure project known as the New Belt and Road.
According to Frenadeso, Ricauter Vásquez, the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, has promised to 'optimize the passage of US warships through the Canal,' which the group believes compromises the neutrality of the Canal and aligns with US military interests.
The group also claims that Mulino is willing to yield to US objectives as part of a 'conspiracy against Panama.' Additionally, the note denounces a series of arrests by Panamanian police targeting student leaders and members of popular movements.
“The gringos are demanding a joint operation of the Panama Canal Administration, and Mulino is willing to comply because he is part of this conspiracy against Panama. While Trump is attacking, the cowardly Director of Police, Jaime Fernández, is raiding homes and arresting student leaders and social movement activists. Meanwhile, the Assembly, which has not spoken on the matter, continues to advance disastrous social security reforms,” the text says.
The excerpt refers to the projects being discussed in the National Assembly. One of them is the reform of the Social Security Fund (CSS), which is a pension fund for workers. The movements denounce the changes proposed by the government would significantly reduce workers' rights. According to the movement, the aim of the reform is to continue seeking loans from international financial institutions after the country's crisis has made these new payments impossible.
“They are accomplices of Mulino, just like the outdated establishment figures, the traditional political parties, the pseudo-independents, the business unions, and the opinion experts. The same people who were photographed with the former foreign ambassador and who allowed him to act as a pro-consul. Mulino doesn't tell the truth. He doesn't say what he gave to the United States in his hour-long meeting alone with Marco Rubio. For treason against the country, Mulino and his Cabinet must go,” the statement concludes.
In his inauguration speech, US President Donald Trump reiterated his threats towards the Panama Canal. After the election, Trump stated he would reclaim control of the canal if the toll prices for US ships were not lowered, even though the tariffs are determined by the ships' capacity and cargo, rather than their country of origin. Now, he has labeled the canal control agreement as 'bad' for the United States and has baselessly claimed that China is controlling the canal passages.
In January, the movements had already published a letter calling for international mobilization to confront what they described as 'Donald Trump's plans against Panama.' At the time, the groups urged organizations to unite to defeat projects promoted by the White House against the country.
