The president of the Association of Professors of the University of Panama (APUP), José Álvaro, publicly denounced the invasion of university lands in the Tortí region by Agustín Rodríguez, a representative of the corregimiento and member of the Alianza Party. According to Álvaro, Rodríguez acted "irresponsibly and criminally" by intruding on the university extension with heavy machinery, tearing down the perimeter fence, and destroying part of the vegetation on land owned by the University of Panama.
"We are facing a flagrant violation of university autonomy. The national and university community must be alert, as these kinds of abuses set a dangerous precedent. We will not leave our colleagues in Tortí alone. The Coordinator of the University Extension has already sent four notes to the Ministry of Environment without receiving a response, which demonstrates the indifference of the authorities to this situation," Álvaro pointed out.
The union leader warned that this act could be "a trial run" for future expropriations of university lands, including the Octavio Méndez Pereira campus. He compared this action to the controversial reopening of mines by the government, suggesting that Rodríguez feels protected by the president of the Republic.
"History shows us that when a violation of autonomy is allowed, the doors are soon opened for more abuses. Today it is in Tortí, tomorrow it could be anywhere else in the country."
Álvaro also urged the rector of the University of Panama, Eduardo Flores Castro, to take action and move to the affected community to reaffirm the authority of the educational institution. He also called on the university community and society in general to remain vigilant and reject any attempt to dispossess land.
"We call on all university students to mobilize and show that we are united in the defense of our heritage. More than a hundred thousand students and teachers support this struggle," he concluded.
