Jackson, Bring on the wrecking ball

Now that we know a bit more about the reasons for Mireya’s “Camino Ecológico” through the Volcan Baru National Park --- how a company the president owns, and another company owned by the nieces and nephews of her late husband Arnulfo Arias, including her ARI director Alfredo Arias, show up on the record as owners of land along the route --- the Panamanian people can begin to adjust tactics in the fight against this overwhelmingly unpopular project.

There is a vast range of possible tactics, from letter writing and lawsuits to civil disobedience and terrorism. Many of these should be rejected out of hand, while some should be pursued in tandem. For example, the “atom bomb” for opponents of the road would be an international tourist boycott of Panama over the issue, but that tactic would be so terribly destructive and so impossible to aim at those who deserve to be hurt that it ought to be discarded. On the other hand, legal actions in a court system that Mireya has rigged are likely to be futile in themselves, but even so there ought to be at least one case pending while other means of resistance are pursued, so that if and when the Mireyistas buckle there’s a forum to ratify their defeat.

But now that we know the Mireyistas’ selfish and corrupt motives, and now that we are but five months away from presidential elections in which both candidates with a chance to win oppose the road, a new political tactic becomes obvious. The possibility is there to scratch out the bottom line for Mireya and her friends and relatives in bright, bright red, serving notice well in advance that there will be no profit for them in this project.

The way to do that is for both Martín Torrijos and Guillermo Endara to announce right now that if they are elected, they will promptly order the demolition of any part of that road that has been built.

I’m not talking about the installation of a gate. I’m talking complete demolition. As in, if Mireya and her greedy clique can only get to their property by four-wheel-drive now, after the demolition crews are done they will only be able to get in and out on mules.

Yes, I know. This sort of remedy after the fact wouldn’t restore an ancient cloud forest that has been vandalized. Even re-planting wouldn’t make the wounded eco-system whole again. But the sure knowledge that there is no profit to be had might prevent the maleantes from committing this crime against nature in the first place.

So how about it, Guillermo and Martín? Will you give us your word that you will demolish any part of that road that has been built by the time you get to the Palacio de las Garzas?

(As this issue was being uploaded construction crews from Constructora Urbana SA had begun work on the parts of the road that does not pass through the park, but do go by the properties of Mireya Moscoso and her relatives. No environmental permit has been issued for the part of the road that Mireya wants to build through the park, but in order to speed that process the president has issued a decree purporting to repeal restrictions on logging and other activities along the path of the proposed road through that protected area.)

Also in this section:
Jackson, Make an appointment for the demolition crew
Weisbrot, FTAA-Lite a big setback for corporate globalization
Valey, Don't blame Mother Nature for natural disasters
Green, Dirty wars are still viable in this region
Committee to Protect Journalists, Cuban journalist released
Amnesty International, Investigate Miami police brutality charges

opinion

Make an appointment
for the demolition crew!

opinion

Make an appointment for the demolition crew!

Make an appointment
for the demolition crew!