There is another means »f production, the Ost advanced of the capitalist system — Onopoly capitalism. This exists in the Zone, a territory colonized by the U.S. here is no Panamanian ownership. The ‘S. government owns everything. In our to recover this territory we are de- ing that it be owned by Panama, and titnot be appropriated by the bourgeoisie build Chase-Manhattan Banks and Donalds, etc. - Q: Tunderstand the student movement is Ty important in Panama. A: Our party has put special emphasis on Student movement. In order to change ideology of the middle class, which has €en totally influenced by imperialist ideol- , the students are playing a leading role. Ogether with the People’s Party, they are lping to consolidate the worker-student- asant union. This union, together with the tors of progressive intellectuals, will pro- € the real revolution in our country. Q: Are you today going through a re- utionary process in Panama? A: We cannot say we are. There is no lalism in Panama nor anything that ap- Fars close to it. But there is a very progres- ve movement, the national liberation Ovement. We call this a revolutionary pro- SS in the sense that it is a period of reforms, Ich are necessary to complete before en- Ting the socialist phase. Q: How is political power divided in anama? _ A: There are three sectors of political Wer. The most predominant is the mili- Ty; next is the traditional sector of the Urgeoisie. But alongside these two forces a pular assembly, created in 1972, exercises wer. For the first time, in contrast eg ee a parliament and assembly, we have a popular assembly where peasants or workers are welcome. We are optimistic that a truly representative assembly will be elected next year. . Q: Can you describe the military? A: The military in Panama is vets diffe- rent from those of other Latin-American countries. It is made up of peasants and the proletariat, not the middle class and bourgeoisie, as in Chile, for example. After the attempted counter-coup of 1969 the mili- tary has taken very good positions. The gov- ernment of Torrijos has established new — military schools where the Panamanian army is now being trained. (Before, they went to the U.S. School of the Americas, which is well known for training the most repressive military leaders of all Latin America. This school is located in the Canal Zone itself.) Now, when the military marches through the streets they chant, “Yankee Go Home.” Q: What is the role of the Panamanian People’s Party? A: Our party is not legalized, but it has great influence in the country. We are in the secondary schools, the universities, the un- ions, etc. Party members are also in the gov-- ernment. The fact that General Omar Tor- rijos has been able to stay in power is due in large part to the support of the party. The party supports him not because he has a kind face or because he speaks in a.popular way, but because he has shown he is ready to con- tinue the fight for the decolonization of Panama if the Treaty fails. When a person says that we must give him our support, keeping in mind, of course, that he forms part of a heterogenous government in which 5 Panama... Pacific Ocean eulye)] BSUad We Wo TresrAssING oe PROHIBIDD TRASPASAR DEL GOBERNADOR ; ign CUCM Ete w Sa ; Sie ee : Sie Heated snaps yp ~ ER aa Lan emcee ee ee 88.9.3 ; Se, 4 aes Oe Doe ce = ee s : ty anama from the Canal Zone. Kobbe, one of the 14 military bases. Right: the fence separates P there are both fascist and bourgeois ele- ments. We have to help push forward the democratic forces in order to expell the reac- tionaries and achieve a true consolidation of the national liberation process. Torrijos went to Cuba where he was re- ceived very warmly by the Cuban people. He has established relations with most coun- tries, which is something new for Panama. Torrijos received Tito of Yugoslavia, and he has permitted a delegation of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to visit the country and talk to the peasants. We must never take a narrow view of the situation, like the phony-left does. They say the political situation has. not changed in Panama. But these forces are aligning themselves with the bourgeoisie and Ronald Reagan, who is trying to defeat the Treaty. Q: Can you elaborate on the Treaty? “A: The Treaty is not 100% satisfactory. We would like the yankees to leave today, but we must be realistic. We know we cannot _- make the U.S. leave today — there are 14 U.S. military bases in the Canal Zone. We must also keep in mind the international situation, which is quite different today — the progressive forces are in the vanguard. Also, we do not have an oligarchy, but a progressive government. So, the Treaty has marked a new historic moment and we must support it in spite of a clause which has ele- ments of colonialism. Torrijos has said there are elements in the Treaty which, if badly interpreted, could place us permanently under the power of the Pentagon. If the bourgeoisie again assumes contro] in Panama, the Treaty will. become useless. That’s why we must consolidate a progres- sive movement in Panama. The U.S. interpretation of the neutrality clause would allow them to intervene in the country. We de not interpret it in this man- ner. In the Treaty there is a clause which _ Specifically says that the U.S. cannot inter- fere in our internal affairs and that all North American troops must leave by 1999. Not until then will be be free of colonialism. Today we need the greatest unity of our people to fight colonialism. In this sense we see the Treaty as a very positive thing. Of course, we know that if the U.S. wants to intervene, a treaty would not stop them. They don’t have to send troops. There are more subtle ways to dominate the people. First we must remove the troops, then the multi-national corporations. The two are lated. : Q: What importance do you place on in- ternational solidarity? A: We feel that a showing of solidarity with the fight of the Panamanian people for decolonization is very important. We would like the people of the U.S. to write articles for newspapers, send letters to their senators, to President Carter, to press them to support the ratification of the Treaty. Your solidarity is very important. It is reciprocal. Your vic- tory is our victory and vice versa. ‘Young woman shouting “Yankee Go Home” leads a student demonstration in Pana PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FEBRUARY 17, 1978—Page 7 ma City, 1974. SRR Q: How is the government s;rcading in- formation to the people about ‘*- Treaty in order that they vote wisely? A: First I must point out th. -1 the U.S. the newspapers are filling th »ple with lies. UPI is distorting what is sng on in Panama and is exaggerating ti. vestion of human rights and the expeli:. Panama- nians. There have beensome li —_.2 persons expelled from the coun ultra- reactionaries who conspired . ,ainst the government of Torrijos. In Panama, all the televisi::i channels are showing programs which give the opin- ions of those in favor of the Trea‘. and those — who are not. One day the phony ‘«ftists put forward their ideas for an hour, |: next day the bourgeoisie, the next day t!« peasants, the next day our party and so on. Everyone has the right to speak, and it is all financed by the government. The same goes ior the radio — everyone is participating in debates. Every day the newspapers publish an entire page which contains opinions for and against the Treaty. All people can march in the streets to demonstrate their ideas and the police are obliged to protect them. Of course, we know the CIA is active, dis- rupting these demonstrations, breaking windows, etc. They are doing this to try to get a negative reaction from around the world. We are going to have a vote tremendously in support of the Treaty — more than 90% of the people are in favor. But the U.S. is pres- suring Panama to sign and interpret the clause on neutrality the same way the U.S. government does so that they can intervene militarily on some pretext or other. If the reactionary sectors of the government suc- ceed in pressuring the progressive sectors our position will have to change. Q: What happens if the Panamanian people approve the Treaty and the U.S. Se- nate does not? : A: If there is no ratification we will fight with other means, possibly even violent ones. We know that the canal is indefensible, no matter how many military personnel are there. Any person who wants to throw him- self into the canal with a bomb on his chest can close the canal. Any sabotage can do this. What is important to the Panamanian people and the world is that the canal remain open. It is our first ‘‘natural’’ resource. It is an asset that produces more than the private sector and state-owned businesses com- bined. Q: Why is the canal important? A: The canal is a question of national dignity, of sovereignty. We are colonized in the heart of our country. Panama is divided in two by a colony of the U.S. In order to go from one part to the other we must cross over a territory which has North American laws, the U.S. flag and another language. We have to resolve this contradiction. The income from the canal is important to us, but it is not the key question. We want total indepen- dence, political as well as economic.