(Panamá) University students block major road in protest

[Judi Lynn]

Panamá, jueves 25 de noviembre de 2010
University students block major road in protest

A group of college students partially blocked off Vía Transístmica yesterday, Wednesday, in rejection of the asylum granted by the Government of Panama to the former director of the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) of Colombia, Maria del Pilar Hurtado.

The students told the Telemetro Reporta news program that they categorically reject the decision taken by the current administration of President Ricardo Martinelli to grant asylum to Hurtado, who is currently being investigated in Colombia for illegal wiretaps in 2007.

These measures of protest could continue throughout the week, informed the students.

Vehicular traffic was affected on the busy route for the duration of the demonstrations, which lasted approximately one hour, according to witnesses.

http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2010/11/25/hoy/english/news_5453.asp

[rabs]

1. Martinelli and alvarito are both catching much grief

over this business of granting Maria del Pilar Hurtado asylum.

alvarito returned to Colombia two nights ago and issued a midnight communique supporting political asylum for his top officials, saying that the Colombian judges and legal system are under the influence of "criminals."

That caused a big uproar in the Supreme Court, opposition parties, legal circles, the Colombian media and even Santos criticized uribito.

In Costa Rica a couple of days ago the foreign minister mentioned as an aside at a news conference that Sabas Pretelt, uribito's former minister of the interior and justice (i.e. the top law-enforcement official in the government) had requested political asylum. Costa Rica rejected his petition. Sabas Pretelt is currently in Rome where he was alvarito's ex-ambassador to Italy.

Bernardo Moreno, uribito's former chief of staff, is said to have bugged out to Spain.

Other DAS dudes could be in Honduras or maybe in Peru; still not clear who and how many have fled the country. So much for alvarito's "democratic security" touted by the uribistas.

alvarito is scheduled to go to Panama either tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday to meet with Martenelli. If the trip is not canceled, look for protests, tear gas and all that good stuff.

-------------------

And no, I cannot confirm at this time that alvarito requested political asylum from the United States and that he was turned down. :-)

[Judi Lynn]

2. Wow! I remember his Finance or Interior Minister who had a father and brother,

both Senators, connected to paras fled, then Jorge Noguero, his DAS head, fled the continent. Whole lotta haughty, dirty, murderous, US friends bailing out of the country they have controlled so long. Oh, yeah, his stupid, dirty cousin Mario Uribe Escobar tried to get sanctuary in Panama, or Costa Rica and was rejected. His brother will probably be leaving soon, too, as there has even been court testimony by former paras (who were subsequently murdered after testifying) naming him as a BIG narcotrafficking/para participant.

God, and THESE are the ones the US has been doing business with, too. What a travesty, but so unavoidably true.

I do believe he's been trying to get asylum here, just like Goni, and other corrupt leaders from Latin America, once their countries start trying to cleanse themselves.

This is outstanding news, rabs. Truly spectacular. You've given us all something to think about. Will be looking for new events following this developement. Fascinating.

[Judi Lynn]

3. University students protest on against Hurtado asylum

Panamá, viernes 26 de noviembre de 2010
University students protest on against Hurtado asylum

A group of students from the University of Panama (UP) partially closed Via Transistmica yesterday afternoon to reject the asylum granted by Panama to the former director of the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) of Colombia, Maria del Pilar Hurtado.

The student demonstration came amid the arrival of former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, who upon his arrival to the country declined to comment on the issue of Hurtado’s asylum.

The former officer is being investigated by Colombian authorities for illegal wiretaps conducted in Colombia in 2007.

The college students protested on Wednesday as well, and informed that they would continue protesting throughout the week.

http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2010/11/26/hoy/english/news_5465.asp