The Panamanian assembly is considering a law that will hand out two year prison sentences for intentionally blocking roads during protests. In Panama it is common practice for anyone with a beef to just block a road to get attention to their cause. This year a few locals blocked Boquetes main road for over an hour during morning rush hour while they protested a restaurant that wanted to put in slot machines. Panama City is always having road blockages for various issues people want to raise. Of course the unions are against such a law as they say it is the right of free assembly, but they give no thought to the difficulties this causes everyone who is trying to get to work or home or whatever. Common sense may reign in this matter and I for one am very happy about it.
from La Prensa:
José González Pinilla
[email protected] [email protected]
The punishment of imprisonment for street closures came in last night to the full National Assembly, igniting the debate between the ruling and the opposition.
Marcos Gonzalez, a member of Democratic Change, took up the proposal which was presented at the meeting last Monday by his fellow Augustine Sellhorn (alternate member), to punish with 365 days in jail who hinder the freedom of movement.
Gonzalez reworked the proposal and presented a paper which states verbatim as follows: "Whoever, by abusing their right of assembly or demonstration, through the use of violence, prevent or impede the free movement of persons or vehicles on public roads in the country, or from damaging to the public or private property shall be punished with imprisonment of six months to two years. "
The PRD bloc called the proposal the "jailhouse" that seeks to "intimidate" the people.
This article was included in the bill that restores the criminal record, which is discussed in the second debate. In addition, he has included this project another controversial article, which complicates the political parties the implementation of the recall.
At press time, the session was in the midst of PRD's legislative tactics to delay approval of the project in the second debate.
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