Panama declares emergency over banana region unrest (www.bbc.com)
from MicroWave@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 10:11
https://lemmy.world/post/31760804

Panama has declared an emergency in its main banana-producing region, after shops were looted and buildings vandalised in ongoing protests over a pension reform.

The government says constitutional rights will be suspended for the next five days in the north-western Bocas del Toro province.

The measure restricts freedom of movement and allows the police to make arrests without a warrant.

Troubles in the region began a month ago, when the local banana workers union joined a nationwide protest against proposed pension cuts and declared a strike.

#world

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ToastedRavioli@midwest.social on 21 Jun 10:29 next collapse

For those unaware, Chiquita recently laid off literally everyone involved in their production in this region due to the labor dispute. They were the primary economic driver of that entire region and employed most of the people, who’s income supported everything else. The region is majorly destabilizing and viciously collapsing in on itself

NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io on 21 Jun 11:13 collapse

Can't they keep working the land and just sell their bananas somewhere else?

jupiter@lemmy.sdf.org on 21 Jun 11:40 collapse

They don’t own the land.
They don’t own the equipment.

NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io on 21 Jun 11:44 next collapse

True, but if Chiquita wants to throw a wrench into the capitalist social contract, then that sounds like a seize the means of production moment.

jupiter@lemmy.sdf.org on 21 Jun 11:55 next collapse

Which is why the state legalized kidnapping for five days in regions infected with that mind virus

icelimit@lemmy.ml on 21 Jun 12:04 next collapse

What now? Who’s kidnapping who?

jupiter@lemmy.sdf.org on 21 Jun 14:55 next collapse

The government says constitutional rights will be suspended for the next five days in the north-western Bocas del Toro province.

The measure restricts freedom of movement and allows the police to make arrests without a warrant.

BakerBagel@midwest.social on 21 Jun 16:21 collapse

What do you think “warrentless arrests” means?

NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io on 21 Jun 12:26 next collapse

Fair enough.

Crankenstein@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 23:49 collapse

Yes, the state hierarchy has employed authoritarian violence against the people of the region… which will inevitably happen any time workers attempt to threaten the power of the dominant system and take back control over what is rightfully theirs from an unjust authority. That is just the logical outcome. It was the same when Feudalism’s system of absolute monarchy was being threatened by the growing popularity of capitalist Liberalism’s system of constitutional monarchy.

Hierarchical authority enforces its power over the people through implied violence of the system. “Obey the law (i.e. the will of those who hold authority in written form) or we will arrest/fine you (i.e. restrict your personal autonomy and/or access to goods and services).” When people disobey that system and disregard the threat of implied violence, it will always resort to employing overt violence to maintain their enforcement of their authority through the institution that is known as the police. This is why we say ACAB.

It just means workers need to be prepared for it so they can stand their ground and exert their own authority, even by engaging in their own acts of violence if necessary. All authority must enforce its control for it to be considered legitimate afterall.

Appleseuss@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 12:14 collapse

That’s when the US steps in and kills everyone supporting socialism.

Breezy@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 14:59 next collapse

A second time.

Agent641@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 22:10 collapse

The Panamanian could ask for tips from Viet farmers

Crankenstein@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 23:08 collapse

Or the much closer Zapatistas.

Agent641@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 22:09 collapse

I see no barrier here

BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 10:50 next collapse

Chiquita wanted to save a few bucks. Chiquita is willing to let everyone living in the area suffer, go broke, go homeless, and starve. That is a sacrifice Chiquita knew it would make to save a few bucks on labor.

Reverendender@sh.itjust.works on 21 Jun 12:02 collapse
Gerudo@lemm.ee on 21 Jun 15:49 next collapse

The government says constitutional rights will be suspended for the next five days

Please don’t give the US any ideas…

Agent641@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 22:08 collapse

Three decades later…

gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de on 21 Jun 21:25 next collapse

“In the face of the disruption of order and acts of systematic violence, the state will enforce its constitutional mandate to guarantee peace,” said Juan Carlos Orillac, minister of the presidency.

It is telling that the only direct quote in the article comes from the side of the state, not from the side of the workers.

Journalists, do a better job. Report on people’s view, not company’s point of view of things.

Crankenstein@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 23:03 collapse

Couldn’t be more proud of every one of those workers. Take back what is yours, boys!

Fuck the Panama State for, as expected, employing authoritarian violence against workers standing up to oppression from a soulless corporate entity.

Goes to show who the state really cares about. It isn’t the people.