Panama Mourns: Injustice and Abandonment in the Nation

Panama is facing a series of laws and measures, such as Law 462, which will affect the majority of its people, as pointed out by the fighting and patriotic educators who have been dismissed from their educational institutions. The nation mourns the repressed, massacred, injured, killed, imprisoned, and hundreds who have been fired for being social actors and fighters across the country against the measures and policies imposed (tailor-made to favor entrepreneurs, transnationals, and North American imperialism, whose official spokespeople travel the country at will, mandating and ordering the head of state and his cabinet on what they must do, otherwise applying economic sanctions, visa suspensions, or placing them on their 'blacklists', to name a few). The nation mourns because our indigenous and rural peoples remain forgotten and abandoned, and as a result, we continue to hear shocking news, such as innocent children in remote indigenous communities suffering from diseases and malnutrition due to a lack of health centers or suitable food, or many of these children drowning while crossing a river or stream on their way to school or home, due to the lack of bridges in these remote and dangerous areas. However, it must also be said that this is a month to honor all those men and women who in every episode of our national history fought and acted to bequeath us important achievements and conquests; in fact, it is a month to equally honor all those people from the countryside and the city who today, with their work and dedication (despite limitations, political, economic, and adversities), contribute their utmost and give their all to bring economic sustenance to their families. Having said that, the nation mourns because we live in a country where wealth continues to be poorly distributed, a product of the disinterest of the current rulers and the malpractice of those who manage the state and public affairs for their exorbitant profits and interests, but not for the benefit of the humble and working people who, amidst the high cost of living, despair, and uncertainty, make sacrifices in their daily lives to build and honor the nation, awaiting better days for it. The nation mourns because it is at a crossroads, where the sovereignty fought for and won by our heroes and martyrs in the January 9, 1964, uprising is currently in question due to the presence of the US military-might on the Isthmian territory, thanks to a draconian memorandum signed by those who govern and direct the country with the Trump administration. The nation mourns because workers, teachers, peasants, indigenous people, and students who raise their voices, protest, and fight against injustices and demand a better quality of life, better wages, defend their rights and conquests, care for and protect the environment and Mother Earth, and combat injustices and corruption, are persecuted for demanding a larger budget and investment in health and education for Panamanians. The nation mourns because it says farewell to the teachers and professors who with courage and dignity have undertaken the historical task of acting and fighting against the current against unpopular laws and measures imposed by a government that defines itself as 'pro-business', to benefit a certain exclusive group of people (bankers, shareholders, and entrepreneurs). This has also happened to other important institutions for technical training and education (ITSE and INADEH); while on the other hand, millions are approved to grant hefty salaries to Supreme Court Justices, and million-dollar contracts are awarded to build a Pet Hospital, the 'Diplomatic Villa,' and the 'Yellow Hall of the Presidency,' to mention a few of these cases highly questioned by Panamanian citizens. The nation mourns because these complicated, difficult, and regrettable scenarios for the country and its people are a result of the systematic application of suffocating policies and measures due to the implementation of the capitalist model in our country by those who govern and control the economic power; but amidst all this (perhaps due to protagonism or vanguardism staged in the current situation), some differences and contradictions have emerged among organized sectors of the working class in our country; a situation that, in our opinion, if not corrected and a dialogue is not held to achieve understanding between the parties, could directly affect the real possibility for organized social sectors of that same working class to come together, in order to achieve that Unity they have always invoked in every struggle, in every march, and in their fierce slogans. The above leads us to understand that: 'only with the unity of the people is the nation strengthened, it allows us to overcome obstacles and work for the common good, in the construction of a better future for all, demonstrating with this pride and respect for our nation'. Panamanian youth in defense of sovereignty and a dignified life. By Félix E. Villarreal V. Citizen Polo For Panamanians, November is the month to pay tribute and homage to the nation in the capital city and the other provinces of the country. We see how indices of violence, insecurity, and crime increase, as well as the shocking cases of abused women and femicide victims in our country. The nation mourns because, daily, the media report on cases or scandals of corruption, big deals, mismanagement, or squandering of millions with state resources, where those accused or involved 'by mechanisms or technicalities' evade responsibility and prosecution; they enjoy benefits and freedoms for being wealthy, for being linked to or being part of the political or economic circles of power in this country; while the worker, the educator, the day laborer, the peasant, the indigenous person, for being poor or 'the cook's child', are condemned, imprisoned, fired, expelled, or repressed immediately and without mercy. Making it very clear what many experts in the media describe as 'selective justice'. The nation mourns because from the executive branch and other state bodies, austerity measures and budget cuts are approved and applied for public education at the primary, secondary, and university levels; for example, the case of the University of Panama, whose budget cut for the year 2026, will put at risk the quality of public higher education and the capacity to attend to more than 90,000 students that it must serve at the national level.