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Communiqué to our fellow Panamanians by the Panameñista Women for the No (MUPANO) The Panameñista women, conscious of the historical moment in which citizens must make a decision about a government proposal to widen the canal --- one of the most important subjects for the future of our country --- met on August 10, 2006. Following our nationalist tradition and our belief in the defense of the most precious national interests, and in light of the absence of an opposition that orients the community so that it can cast an informed vote, we formed the Movement of Panameñista Women for the No --- MUPANO. The "Patria Nueva" administration appears not to have learned that in a democracy the people must be consulted; that state resources don't belong to the governing party; that the decisions they make should not be just for the benefit of their allies and friends; that the canal is public property and is such because of the struggles of the students, of civic organizations that took a stand, of the women, which made it possible for the canal to be in Panamanian hands today. Since December 31 of 1999, when the canal's administration came into Panamanian hands, the ACP has put thousands of dollars and many years into modernization studies. However, in a few months this government has attempted to pressure the people into a hasty decision in a referendum on whether there should be an expansion, and has mounted a campaign in all of the media, spending our money hand over fist to sell us the idea of expansion as some sort of divine salve that will allow us Panamanians to cure all of our problems. We all want modernization, but nobody wants an imposition, and this is what's happening. It's a proposal made to benefit powerful economic sectors and multinational corporations with powerful political connections, and it's unrelated to any national goals. The debate hasn't happened, and the opposition parties have been timid and absent, save for a few honorable exceptions who have been presenting arguments that have uncovered the lies that are behind this proposal. That leads us Panameñista women, along with our fellow party members, our fellow citizens, the women of other parties and of the government, to ask ourselves: "Why an expansion? For whom? Why the haste? Why doesn't the 'no' side get the same resources?" Our party can't wait until September 29 to mount a national opposition strategy. The true Panameñistas have an historic responsibility to the people. We can't accept an expansion without having first defined how every cent will be used, and that must be done as part of a thorough national development plan. That plan must in turn be founded upon the laws of this republic. We invite women to join us, for our children, for our families, for our country. For a better Panama for all, vote No.
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