US Wants Panama Congress
Chair Out
The US, with support
from Panamanian
political and economic
circles, is stepping up
pressure to remove
Parliament Chairman
Pedro Miguel Gonzalez,
who it claims killed a
US marine.
The latest US attempt
came through Trade
Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez, who on
arriving in Panama with
a Congressional
delegation, said he
hoped the State
Department would remove
Gonzalez so the case
wouldn't block approval
of a free trade
agreement with Panama.
Panama's Chamber of
Commerce, Agriculture
and Industry will meet
with Gonzalez to expose
objections to his
staying in office.
The greatest
beneficiaries of the US
devised FTA try to link
their interests to
Panama's to dodge
criticism of US
interference and prevent
Gonzalez from blocking
the free trade agreement
approval.
Gonzalez was acquitted
and elected by 50 out of
77 votes of the National
Assembly, in open
challenge to US
pressures and
disappointment. |
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