Rs

World

This story, by People’s Daily World
Havana correspondent Marc Frank, was
written before the May 7 election in Panama.

By MARC FRANK

HAVANA — “There’s not a single
trade union backing the U.S.-sponsored
Democratic Civic Opposition Alliance
(ADOC),” Panamanian trade unionist
Rodrigo Espinoza told me when I talked
with him here recently. Referring to Pana-
ma’s general elections May 7 he continued:
“On the other hand, even our largest federa-
tion, the Panamanian Workers Confedera-
tion, affiliated to the AFL-CIO, backs the
National Liberation Coalition (COLINA).
Its president is a candidate on the COLINA
slate.”

The two coalitions battled it out in the
Panamanian national elections Sunday.

“The elections may be close” said Espin-
oza “but COLINA, which is made up for the
four parties that form Panama’s current
government together with other progressive
forces, will win.”

Espinoza drives a delivery truck for a
pharmaceutical distributor in Panama City.
In his spare time the 39-year-old father of
two is in charge of international relations
for Panama’s second largest labour federa-
tion, the Panamanian Worker’s Central, an
affiliate of the World Federation of Trade
Unions.

“The labour movement and other popu-
lar sectors are very clear about the elections.
COLINA, as its name implies, stands for
the continued fight for our independence
begun by Gen. Omar Torrijos, with special
emphasis on respect for the Panama Canal
Treaties,” he said.

“The Democratic Opposition Alliance is
an alliance of the most backward sections of
the old ruling class. The democracy it stands
for is one subservient to U.S. interests. It’s
made up of big businessmen and bankers,
and if they win they will renegotiate the
Canal Treaty and postpone the closing
down of U.S. military bases. They will put
us once more under the International
Monetary Fund and push the people out of
government.”

Espinoza said no one was surprised when
President George Bush announced that he
would continue the Reagan administra-
tion’s aggressive policy towards Panama.
“Bush, like Reagan, says he’s out to pres-
sure Noriega, but in fact, those feeling the
impact of U.S. sanctions are the working

people. We are the ones who have suf- -

fered.” : ;
Espinoza said the sanctions are having a

dual impact on the election process. “It’s
not easy to overcome serious economic
problems, to put the independence struggle
first and ADOC’s and Washington’s prom-

Unions spurn Panama’s ‘op

Aihogs .

position’

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inference in Panama’‘s affairs.

ises to lift the sanctions second. There are
many families without work and you can
imagine their situation — no money for
food or rent.”

On the other hand, he said, the sanctions
are also creating a great deal of anger, and
ADOC’s virtual endorsement of those mea-
sures hurts its electors’ efforts.

“Some people will vote for ADOC out of
economic need, and some because they are
confused by the incredible U.S. propaganda
campaign, and you can’t close your eyes to
the fact that imperialism is pouring millions
into ADOC’s three parties.”

The head of Panama’s Electoral Trib-
unal has declared that the results of Sun-
day’s election, still unclear amidst
charges of fraud and vote-rigging, had
been declared “annulled in their entirety.”

Yolanda Pulice de Rodriguez stated in
a broadcast to the country May 10:
“Constant vote-stealing at the polls, vote
buying and missing tally sheets made
proclamation (of a new president of
Panama) impossible.”

She added that the results had been
“altered by the obstructionist action by
the many foreigners called in by foreign
and domestic political forces without
invitation” — an implicit reference to
the uninvited U.S. delegation which
accused the Panamanian government of
election fraud.

The announcement capped more than
a week of escalating tension surrounding
the elections which the U.S. has sought

Vote results annulled

from the beginning to manipulate into a
victory for the Civic Democratic Opposi-
tion Alliance (ADOC), the right wing
grouping backed by Washington.

, Now that the vote has been annulled,
according to NBC News, U.S. President
George Bush plans to propose to Con-
gress to send a combat force to Panama
under the guise of “protecting U.S.’
civilians” — the pretext used in invading
Grenada.

Bush’s plans give further substance to
a story published last month by: the
Washington Post which revealed US.
plans to launch covert operations and
even possibly an invasion if ADOC
failed to win a majority in the election.

ADOC is led by a group of wealthy
families, connected by corporate: direc-
torships, and many have close ties to
U.S. companies.

As for a possible election fix, Espinoza
said, “U.S. imperialism is trying to convince
everyone before the fact that there will be a
dishonest election. Yet, in Colombia, or in
El Salvador or a dozen other countries,
where the regimes support U.S. interests,
Washington says nothing and does just the
Opposite: it gives them hundreds of millions
of dollars.

“The U.S. is already charging fraud
because they know they are going to lose.
And they are going to keep charging fraud
because we are determined to win the elec-
tions, not just in 1989, but in 1994, and after
that too, until the United States leaves our
country.”

Espinoza reacted strongly when it was
pointed out that many progressive people
believe U.S. policy towards Panama is
aimed at stopping drug trafficking or top-
pling a military dictator.

“Look, there have been and still are
many governments in Latin America who
tule through fierce repression. How many
trade unionists and others have been mur-
dered in Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, El
Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala?
Many of these governments are linked with
drugs, yet you can see that the U.S.
government really has no serious problems
with them. Certainly there are no cam-
paigns like that against Panama aimed at
them.”

Espinoza, as head of international rela-
tions for the Workers Central, helps organ-
ize international labour solidarity for
Panama. “There has been a great deal of
solidarity with our struggle,” he said, “not
just from the world Federation of Trade
Union but from many other unions in Latin
America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Workers march in Panama City last year in celebration of Panamanian Labour Day. The banners are protesting U.S.

“We appreciate this solidarity from

- workers all over the world, and we are con-

vinced that, if we need more, we will get
it — not just from those who currently
support us but from many U.S. workers
and trade unionists as well.

“We are confident that U.S. workers at
some point will understand that the people
suffering in Panama are just like them:
workers fighting for better economic and
social conditions for their people. Workers
fighting for their independence just like the
people of the United States fought England
for their independence. Sooner or later, the
USS. people are going to realize this is what
the Panama question is really all about and
we are going to get their solidarity too.”

What’s next? Espinoza pointed out that
Washington’s provocations continue daily.
“They recently went so far as to stop our
presidential candidates’ campaign caravan
on Panamanian territory.”

The trade unionist warned of the possibil-
ity that if it loses the elections, Washington
will continue to try to provoke social unrest
in order to create a justification for direct
intervention.

“What I can say is that no matter what
happens, we will keep fighting. The U.S. can
intervene, they can kill a certain number of
people, they can kill me, they can even take
over. They can never and will never kill the
people’s independence struggle.

“We think we are now on the road to our
national liberation, especially due to the
treaty signed by Panama and the U.S.
government. We think we have every right
to demand that this treaty be respected and
fulfilled. This is what we are demanding and
we won’t accept anything less, no matter
what the consequences.”

Pacific Tribune, May 15, 1989 e 9