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Bush Sours Panama
Although he was there hardly 19
hours and departed without
signing anything, US President
George W. Bush left some big
issues in Panama for Martin
Torrijos´ government.
Not without fissures and
internal divisions, Panamanian
society managed to close ranks
and show its rejection of Bush
in massive demonstrations.
Unlike most of its Latin
American brothers and sisters,
the Torrijos´ administration
supported Bush´s sweeping FTAA
proposal in Mar del Plata,
Argentina, and was rewarded by
promises of a bilateral free
trade agreement and help
widening the Panama canal.
In favor of discussing the
Canal´s entire transfer to
Panamanian authorities, Torrijos
tabled the issue on
decontamination of firing ranges
left by the Pentagon troops in
his country.
Bush and Torrijos agreed there
are absolute divergences on that
issue, despite the more than
3,000 hectares´ area with
non-detonated explosives that
have killed many inhabitants.
Perhaps buried by the Pentagon,
that matter is still alive among
others which stimulated
demonstrations of hundreds
including tire burnings and
protests.
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