The recent decision of the government of Panama regarding relations with its neighbors in the region raises the question: What direction is Panama, headed by businessman Ricardo Martinelli, taking and why?
Before Belize, Panama was the last country to become a republic in the Central American isthmus, after separating from Colombia in 1903, with the 'assistance' of the emerging imperialism of the United States. Even back then, the Empire had designs on tightening its strategic control over the canal that links the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.
Since then, Panama's sovereignty has been pure fiction... at least until the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Agreements in 1977. The accords went into effect in December 2000, when the U.S. occupying forces had to abandon all their military bases in the Panama Canal. Only then did Panama join the group of free nations and was included in regional integration mechanisms with its Central American sisters and brothers.
This direction, however, has started to change. Once again, the homeland of Omar Torrijos is being handed over to the U.S. Empire.
The Pentagon has set up military bases in that Central American nation, no longer with the pretext of protecting the inter-oceanic passage, but - according to the claims of Washington - to fight against 'terrorism' and 'drug trafficking.'
Everyone knows that terrorism isn't a problem in Latin America, and that the entire drug trafficking problem is fueled in the United States, which has the largest market for drugs in the world. But the government in Washington insists on playing the Nut Role. This can only mean that the Empire is looking for something else: to maintain its dominance in the region.
Like in Soto Cano, Honduras; in Comalapa, El Salvador; in at least seven different military bases of Colombia; in Chaco, Paraguay; on the islands of Aruba and Curacao; in the illegally occupied naval base of Guantánamo; and at four bases in Panama - the United States spies, controls and intervenes to conspire against the great homeland of Our America.
But Martinelli's government does not stop with merely handing over the sovereignty of Panama. With the enthusiasm worthy of better causes, Panama has joined the project of the U.S. extreme right-wing against the legitimate Honduran government, overthrown by a fascist military coup on June 28th.
The Panamanian government even appointed Roberto Jované as Special Ambassador to watch, or better said, to legitimize the elections of Nov 29th, which have been rejected by the rest of the region for being organized by an illegal regime to give itself a legal facade.
Martinelli is not worried about that. He only wants to please the United States and has clearly stated his support for Micheletti, announcing that he will recognize the winner of the illegal elections in Honduras.
Panama is also moving toward its withdrawal from the Central American Parliament. With this action, Panama will further distance itself from the regional integration process.
While it is true that the Central American Parliament, from its beginning, has had serious deficiencies that must be corrected to make it more functional and effective, there seems to be no reason to dismantle it. This would be like going back to the middle of the last century, when governments were overthrown by the Pentagon and the local U.S. Embassy personnel, throwing Central America into the dictionary as so-called "Banana Republics."
Yet we continue to ask ourselves: Which direction is Panama taking? If the recent moves taken by Ricardo Martinelli don't help us to arrive at an answer, perhaps looking back about 20 years will be of some assistance.
Next month, on December 20th, we'll commemorate the 20th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Panama. With the flimsy excuse of going after Manuel Noriega, accusing him of corruption and drug-running, Washington killed thousands -- the exact figure is still unknown -- and militarily occupied the small Central American country.
And, going back a bit further, we have the shining example of students from the Balboa High School in Panama City, who in 1964 risked their lives to raise the Panamanian flag in the U.S.-controlled canal area.
Today, in quite simple terms, Panama is being handed over to the extreme right in Washington, subjecting itself to the implacable judgement of history. Undoubtedly, history will strongly condemn these actions.
Taken from Radio Havana Cuba
Source:periodico26.cu
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