This week's blockade to prevent corporate mining on indigenous lands in Panama.
English summary: The Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) in Costa Rica sent this news release to the ILWU Coast Longshore Division. It says that the Panamanian police and military have killed three people and injured dozens since the beginning of protests seven days ago as the Ngäbe Bugle indigenous people fight aggressive mining on their land. According to the release, Panamanian Pres. Ricardo Martinelli’s government promised dialogue with the leadership of the indigenous movement, but failed in his word, and did not appear at the negotiating table on Sunday, February 5. Instead, brute force was used to remove the protests that had paralyzed the Interamerican Highway. Protester Jeronimo Rodriguez Tugri was gunned down by military police, as were two other victims who have yet to be identified, and dozens more have been injured in the ongoing fighting. Photos gathered from activists and news reports.
ASOCIACIÓN NACIONAL DE EMPLEADOS PÚBLICOS Y PRIVADOS (ANEP)
Central Social Juanito Mora Porras (CSJMP)
Comunicado de Prensa
Panamanian boy detained by riot police in protest over mining on indigenous lands.Las fuerzas policiales-militares panameñas han asesinado a 3 personas y han herido a decenas desde el inicio de las protestas 7 días atrás.
ANEP hace un llamado a la solidaridad internacional con las comunidades indígenas Ngäbe Buglé, las cuales quieren evitar la explotación minera en sus tierras.
Desde el pasado 31 de enero las fuerzas vivas de las comunidades indígenas Ngäbe Buglé, de Panamá, se encuentran en las calles, exigiendo respeto a su libre determinación respecto al control de las tierras que les pertenecen; las que en el hermano país son denominadas Comarcas.
Éstas se encuentran amenazadas por un proyecto de ley que se tramita en estos momentos en debate en el congreso panameño; proyecto que establece un régimen especial para la protección de recursos naturales en la Comarca.
La iniciativa de ley había sido discutida con representantes de la comunidad, pero al ser presentada en el Parlamento se eliminó un artículo que prohibía la explotación minera y la posibilidad de construir una hidroeléctrica, ante lo cual los y las indígenas exigen que se garantice en la ley garantías para la prohibición de estas actividades.
Jeronimo Rodriguez Tugri was killed in the protest over mining on Panama's indigenous lands.
El Gobierno de Ricardo Martinelli prometió diálogo con la dirigencia del movimiento indígena; pero, faltando a su palabra, no se hicieron presentes a la mesa negociadora el pasado domingo 5 de febrero. Por el contrario, utilizó la fuerza bruta para eliminar las protestas que tenían paralizada la Carretera Interamericana. Como resultado de dicha represión perdió la vida el compañero Gerónimo Rodríguez Tugri, ultimado a balazos por la policía militar. Además, ya se suman dos víctimas más que están por identificar.
La lucha de la comunidad Ngäbe Buglé no es nueva. Ya el año pasado habían ocupado las calles en legítima defensa de sus intereses y en contra de las reformas a la ley minera. El Gobierno de Martinelli había pactado con ellos la total protección de la Comarca y hoy traiciona su palabra. La sed por el oro y otros minerales en tierras canaleras no tiene límite, tanto así que el propio Gobierno anunció la posibilidad de explotar el 44 % de su territorio bajo este modelo depredador.
Hoy, lunes 6 de febrero, las protestas se han diseminado por todo el país. Ciudad de Panamá, Colón, Bocas del Toro, Viguí y decenas de localidades más se encuentran colmadas de manifestantes y lastimosamente también de policías reprimiendo.
Decenas de organizaciones sociales apoyan la lucha indígena en Panamá. Merece un saludo especial para nuestro sindicato amigo y hermano SUNTRACS, que se ha dedicado en cuerpo y alma a respaldar la lucha actual en la calle, en lo organizativo y en el trabajo de divulgación, para que el esfuerzo combativo de los Ngäbe Buglé no se pierda en el olvido informativo de los latifundios mediáticos.
En nuestro país y para el próximo miércoles 8 de febrero se está realizado un llamado a las 9 de la mañana frente a la embajada de la República de Panamá, 300 metros al norte del antiguo Higuerón en San Pedro de Montes de Oca, para que el pueblo de Costa Rica exprese total repudio a la política represiva y asesina del Gobierno de Ricardo Martinelli.
Exhortamos a la ciudadanía con posibilidades de hacerse presente, para que ahí manifieste la solidaridad costarricense con el valiente pueblo indígena panameño y las organizaciones sindicales y sociales que en el hermano país les apoyan
San José, lunes 6 de febrero de 2012.
Albino Vargas Barrantes
Secretario General, Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos y Privados (ANEP)
Presidente, Central Social Juanito Mora Porras (CSJMP)
Costa Rica
The maritime union has warned of possible industrial warfare in Fremantle as stickers emerge that make threats against scab labour, using the image of a shotgun.
Fremantle Ports hit back, saying any worker caught putting up “intimidating” stickers would be disciplined or sacked.
Posted anonymously around the port this week, the stickers are aimed at scab labour and feature a cartoon with a double-barrelled shotgun held by a maritime unionist.
The stickers, produced by the Maritime Union of Australia, include the logo: “When you scratch a scab . . . it bleeds.”
Union secretary Chris Cain said yesterday he was not familiar with the stickers but said they did not sound threatening, claiming other unions used equally bold logos.
More in the West Australian
From the South Carolina Progressive Network:
One of South Carolina’s largest economic engines, the Port of Charleston, is threatened by an anti-union bill (H-4652) now making its way though the state legislature. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Sandifer (R-Oconee), it would require unions to disclose every single financial transaction, publicize membership lists, and would raise the fine for violations of the state’s Right to Work Act from $100 to $10,000.
Sandifer, who chairs the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee that is hearing his bill, stated at a Feb. 2 subcommittee meeting, “We do have one of the toughest right-to-work laws in the country; my goal is to have the toughest.”
The bill was passed out of subcommittee, and is scheduled to be heard by the full committee in the next two weeks.
Ken Riley, President, ILA Local 1422 Ken Riley, President of the Longshoreman’s union that works the Charleston port, questioned why punitive laws were being directed at the 5 percent of the state’s workers who belong to unions and make decent wages and benefits. “This unwarranted attack is political grandstanding intended to shift the blame for our economic problems from policy makers to workers,” Riley said.
According to the State Ports Authority, trade through South Carolina ports facilitates 280,600 jobs and provides an overall economic impact of $45 billion each year. The per unit cost of containers handled by Charleston Longshoremen is the lowest of all US ports.
“Ninety-five percent of all containers shipped out of East Coast ports are required by contracts to be handled by union labor,” Riley said. “If you bust our union, you close the port of Charleston.”
“It’s ironic that the same politicians who decry government intrusion in business affairs want to force more government regulations on productive businesses that use union labor,” said SC Progressive Network Director Brett Bursey.
Bursey warned that if the bill becomes law, citizens who believe that workers’ rights are equal to those who profit from low-wage jobs will picket the port of Charleston.
“My guys won’t cross a picket line,” Riley said.
Published by the South Carolina Progressive Network
Longshore and Shipping News does not advertize. Any ads in this video belong to KING 5 News.
An estimated 300 to 400 port truck drivers walked off the job this week, complaining that conditions make their trucks unsafe.
“It’s very dangerous for the public,” explained truck driver Demeke Meconnen. “it’s very dangerous for me. But I have to provide food for my family.”
There are many complex issues in play, including drivers who claim they are forced to carry overweight loads. If a shipper can put more cargo in a container and move it for the same price, they make more money. Drivers say it happens all the time.
In front of lawmakers this week, the head of one shipping company said it wasn’t a problem.
But truck inspections conducted the day after that testimony tell a different story. The KING 5 Investigators requested port inspection records from the Washington State Patrol and Seattle Police. They show of 15 trucks inspected that day; four drivers were written tickets and three received warnings for being overweight.
In Olympia, lawmakers introduced bills that would shift more responsibility to the companies that subcontract the drivers — legislation that came in response to a KING 5 investigation that revealed serious safety problems with more than half of container haulers inspected.
More at KING 5 News
The 738-foot MV Full Sources will arrive in Longview Tuesday morning. It is seen here in a 2007 photo leaving Santos, Brazil. Bruno Pricoli photo.
The first grain ship headed to the EGT export terminal is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Longview between 11 a.m. and noon Tuesday after dockworkers on Monday announced they’ve resolved “fundamental” differences with the company.
EGT and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union started negotiating late last week to hammer out an agreement to work at the $200 million terminal at the Port of Longview. About 25 to 35 jobs are at stake.
“Negotiations are currently underway and have progressed to the point that the fundamental issues are resolved. EGT is operating its facility with ILWU-represented employees while the finer details are being worked out,” ILWU Coast Committeeman Leal Sundet said in a written statement.
Both sides say the ship’s docking Tuesday as an important milestone following a nasty, yearlong labor dispute. … Once docked at the terminal, the ship will be loaded by longshore union workers. It will carry 57,000 metric tons of Washington state soft white wheat to Korea, according to a joint press release issued by EGT and the ILWU.
Read the rest in the Daily News
From the Journal of Commerce:
Bunge last year broke off contract negotiations with the ILWU and hired* workers represented by another union. That triggered months of ILWU demonstrations that resulted in arrests of dozens of longshoremen on charges of property destruction and blocking a train from carrying grain to the terminal.
If Bunge had succeeded in opening the terminal without ILWU labor, it would have become the first non-ILWU manned grain terminal in the Pacific Northwest.
Last month, Bunge and the ILWU announced a tentative settlement of legal issues that was brokered by Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Last week, Bunge recognized ILWU Local 21 as the bargaining representative for the workers. The fundamental contract issues have been resolved, and EGT will operate the facility with ILWU-represented employees while the remaining details are being worked out, said Leal Sundet, ILWU coast committeeman.
More at this link
* Editor’s note: EGT did not hire union workers, but subcontracted with General Construction Co.
