National Assembly Ready To Readdress Law 30

(Panama-Guide) - Panama America - The Executive branch of government in Panama and the National Assembly have differences of opinion regarding the demands coming from some sectors to repeal Law 30, known as the "Chorizo Law." Trade Minister Roberto Henriquez insisted yesterday the repeal of Bill 30 is not on the government's agenda. Meanwhile, the President of the National Assembly, José Muñoz, said Law 30 "is not written in stone" and that " it may amended in its entirety." Similarly, lawmaker Jose Isabel Blandon from the Panameñista political party said he would present a proposal to extend the suspension of the three contentious articles of Law 30 - Articles 12, 13 and 14 - so that it would cover the entire law, except the part dealing with aviation. Blandon said the bill submitted by the Executive intends to postpone the entry into force of Articles 12, 13 and 14, is "not enough", therefore a "total repeal" is necessary to lay the groundwork for a real and "frank" dialog.

Despite having acknowledged a lack of public consultations when passing Law 30, president Ricardo Martinelli reiterated last week they would only review the three articles as agreed in Bocas del Toro. Minister Henríquez, a member of the Democratic Change (CD) political party and a top government spokesman, said they would wait to see the results of the dialog based on the agreements of Bocas del Toro, and if the repeal of Law 30 is proposed, the Executive would consider the recommendation.

Debates Begin: According to the President of the National Assembly, who is also a member of the CD political party, the Working Committee intends to conduct all of the consultations and to devote the time necessary to discuss the Executive's proposal and to include items that best suit the country. Law 30 modified the Labor, Criminal, and Judicial Codes, as well as the laws governing environmental protection and the National Police, among others, and gave rise to the protests in Bocas del Toro and other provinces. Starting today, the Labor Committee will begin the discussions.

The groups opposed to Law 30 reacted yesterday. Saul Mendez, leader of the SUNTRACS labor union, said that regardless of what the executive says or what the lawmakers do, they insist on a total repeal of the law, because it never should have been passed in the first place. Meanwhile, Andrés Rodríguez, a teachers union leader, insisted the postponement of some of the items in the law is not enough, and insisted on a total repeal of the law. He said the law was approved with violence and a violation of due process. For her part, environmental activist Raisa Banfield said it was "worrying" that the Government thinks it is necessary to come to extreme situations involving death and violence.