Comments by "Panama Fred" (@panamafred1) on "Elderly Man SHOOTS 2 Eco Activists Blocking Highway, Says THIS ENDS TODAY, Both Men UNALIVED" video.

  1. I live here, very close to this tragic event. I know some of the people involved. Enough said. The current protest here in Panama is very different from the Just Stop Oil movement. The government signed a contract with this Canadian mining company that is owned in part by Chinese investors and Blackrock among others. The open pit mine is the size of Miami and is contaminating the ground and water for many nearby communities. The contract gives mineral rights to the company in many other areas of Panama, too. The 20-year contract (with right of extension) is now in the Panamanian Supreme Court's hands to determine if is unconstitutional, that is against the better interests of Panama, a decision expected in a few weeks. It's not just a few eco protestors -- thousands and thousands of citizens are in the streets protesting and marching. Construction workers, teachers, doctors, nurses, business owners, you name it. Protesting is allowed here, and apparently blocking the road is not illegal, but the police have used tear gas to break up massive, many thousands of people, marches in the capital city. Several people, I think the count is now four, have lost eyes from rubber bullets. We are now in day 18; in some places on the InterAmerican highway have been closed this entire time and supply trucks are lined up by the hundreds. Some areas are running short of food, gasoline, and propane, especially in the Bocas Del Toro and Darien areas. The supermarket in my town has many empty shelves. No chicken, low rice supplies, low fruits and veges. All this is putting pressure on ordinary working people, but also large business owners who are losing $10 million per day. The strategy is for the wealthy business owners to put pressure on the government to nullify the contract. The 77 year old man is a Panamanian lawyer (born in Colon, Panama, to American parents working in Panama at the time). He holds a Panamanian passport. He renounced his American citizenship many, many years ago. He teaches law at a Panamanian university. He and his girlfriend were on their way back to our mountain town from the city where her dog had just had emergency surgery. They were stopped by numerous blockages that turned their normal two-hour trip into a much, much longer journey. After many hours in the car, hungry and thirsty, wanting to get the dog out of the car, I believe he just had had enough. Interesting, the police did not even handcuff him and gently helped him into the police car. In the States, he would have been treated much worse I would think. Looking at him, he does not look in good physical health. I think that it is possible that he was having a diabetic blood sugar crash, hangry if you will, something I believe causes a lot of road rage incidents. There is no clear end to this in sight. Panamanians are largely peaceful people -- my wife and I feel quite safe here. BTW Tim, it's pronounced CHA-may.
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