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CENTRAL AMERICA |
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University of Panama Closed After
Disturbances
PANAMA – The University of Panama
indefinitely suspended classes on Wednesday
after confrontations between students and
police during a protest against alleged U.S.
involvement in plans to build new military
installations.
Chancellor Gustavo Garcia de Paredes
announced the suspension to journalists.
The disturbances came after riot police
arrived at the protest site with the aim of
dispersing the students with tear gas and
water cannon to reopen the road in front of
the university, which the demonstrators had
blocked.
A police source told Efe that so far
authorities have no information about
whether there were injuries or arrests.
The students said they came out to protest
against the building of four bases on
Panama’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts that
the government has said are being
established to combat drug trafficking.
The protest came after earlier this week
statements about the bases by U.S.
Ambassador to Panama Barbara Stephenson were
published.
She was cited by Panamanian newspapers as
saying that the bases will help to resolve
the problem of drug trafficking and the
United States would provide logistical
support during anti-drug operations.
Panama’s interior minister, Jose Raul Mulino,
said last week that before Nov. 30 the first
of four air and naval bases to fight drug
trafficking would be set up.
Mulino stressed that the air and naval bases
will be “obviously Panamanian” and there
will not be any U.S. troop or aid presence
at them.
The United States maintained a massive
military presence in the Central American
country for decades prior to turning over
control of the Panama Canal to the host
government. EFE |
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