opinion

The activities of various committees for our centennial as a republic have accomplished little or nothing --- so far --- to establish a point of reference by which to measure the situation, for a current account of the state, to elaborate a national perspective, a short, medium and long term vision, a collective vision, a civic action. I go back to an outstanding citizen, Don Víctor Florencio Goytía, when in his work "Biography of a Republic," published in 1953 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, he told us "...the people of Panama demand, before horse fairs, carnivals and beauty contests, a balance of the situation that allows us to discover, clearly and without euphemisms, how we have administered our legacy during this half century. In this the central idea must be to inspire some, at least, of the commemorative acts of the semi centennial to differ from the modern version of the Roman standard of bread and circuses, and to carry out with relative honesty the noble endeavor of sending a message to posterity."

The hundred years of Panama arrive in the midst of a deep and gigantic longing for common objectives; under an interminable downpour of prevailing false premises; of ever more unusual and shameless corruption; of the increasing mockery of democracy by which the most powerful people move behind the scenes to make our history and reality a joke. All this is reflected in a political, ethical, legal and governmental vacuum which at their every vertex make it imperative, urgent and necessary to convene a constituent assembly that can help us contain the chaos and disorder that on every level is sweeping across the country at an accelerating pace, and which, if it continues like this, will lead to this country's destruction.

At a time when the nation is beginning to hear more and more voices in favor of a constituent assembly, a time in which the immense majority wants a real constitutional change, candidates for various posts opt to turn their back on the subject of the constitutional change and reject, postpone or hide from the idea of a constituent assembly.

Therefore, before the political parties and their standard bearers take total control of the scenario staged by their supporters, the overriding necessity is to clearly explain to the people what a constituent assembly is, what it means and the scope that it implies, or else otherwise the political cliques will attempt, without any scruples whatsoever, to turn it into one more tool, the object of all sorts of manipulations by their own political machines. We need to do that because all evidence shows that the ruling class of our country finds it inconvenient to educate the people, because if they are educated they will know, and if they know the game is over!

A referendum by way of a fifth ballot in the May 2004 elections, in which the citizenry is consulted about whether or not they want a new constitution and the convening of a National Constituent Assembly --- both questions presented in an honorable fashion and a democratic spirit --- is in today's circumstances the ideal instrument by which we Panamanians can become the protagonists and true owners of our present and future. How long should tiny minorities continue to make the decisions in the name of great majorities? How long shall the decisions of these minorities favor the interests of those who make them, rather than those of the people whom they say they represent?

The Panamanian state has arrived at its republican centennial completely exhausted, every day more incapable of carrying out its functions and responsibilities. Its public organization, its constitutional order and its political and administrative structure don't fit our reality.

Therefore, as well, the need for a constitutional process to be able to plan for ourselves: What kind of government do we want, and what should we expect from it? How can we redesign those pillars of vigilance over the workings of the state, the Comptroller General's and Attorney General's offices? What mechanisms are we going to create so that governmental institutions really act as instruments of civic power?

The centennial of the republic cannot be commemorated in a manner that's beneficial for the Panamanian people so long as the activities necessary to convoke a constitutional process that culminates in a national constituent assembly are not a part of the celebration. Such a process is today's greatest political obligation for Panamanians, the true historic imperative.

The birth in the University of Panama's School of Law and Political Sciences' Ricardo J. Alvaro Auditorium of the "University Movement for a Constituent Assembly" this past June 11 was a clarion call and a breath of new life in the movement for a constituent assembly.

The power of a government resides in the people alone, who are the primary constituency. Some persist in wanting to make us forget this, clouding the issue because they're in power or anxious to come to power. But make no mistake about it, ever increasing sections of the Panamanian people have opened their eyes. Soon they will open their mouths and speak out, because now they can't be silenced.

Also in this section:
Bernal, Centennial and Constituent Assembly
Khan, Adding value to the Caribbean region
Communications Workers of America, Call centers
Hartmann, How another "Patriot Act" brought down a US president
Western Sahara Campaign, Another annexationist maneuver
Jackson, Candidates for the Legislative Assembly
Greenpeace, The dirty business of scrapping toxic ships

Back to top