The sovereignty of the canal “is not negotiable,” Panama responds to Trump
Last week, during a conference from his residence in Mar-a-Lago, he said that the Panamanians “violated all aspects of the treaty,” without specifying which ones he was referring to. A month earlier, he had assured that he will demand “that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States in its entirety, quickly and without asking questions.”
The Republican assures that the Canal has fallen into the control of China, that it is in poor condition – for which the Panamanian government would have asked Washington for 3 billion dollars for repairs – and that Panama is imposing very high tariffs for ships. Americans seeking to cross it, which according to their interpretation is an attempt to “swindle” their compatriots.
In December, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected any type of foreign interference in the administration of the Canal. “There are no Chinese in the canal. As simple as that. Neither the Chinese nor any other power are in the canal,” he stated.
Regarding the alleged tax discrimination, the former ambassador of Panama to the United States, Juan B. Sosa, detailed in a letter sent to the Fox News network that the Canal tariffs are periodically reviewed through an open and transparent process, in addition, there is no imposed individually but equally.
“As part of the Panama Canal Treaties, a Neutrality Treaty was introduced by the United States that obligates the Panama Canal to treat all countries fairly and with the same tariffs, to avoid providing an advantage to one country. nation over another. “Panama has never violated these guidelines,” added the diplomat.
“The Neutrality Treaty obliges the Panama Canal to treat all countries fairly and with the same tariffs.”
Juan B. Sosa, former ambassador of Panama to the United States.
– POPULAR CONCERN –
The most worrying aspect of Trump’s new obsession has been his refusal to rule out the option of using military force to achieve his goal. “I can’t assure you,” he responded a week ago when asked if he would rule out applying any type of economic or military coercion to take over the Canal or Greenland. “We need them for economic security,” he added.
It is a position that inevitably awakens ghosts of the past for Panamanians. Although in 1977 the governments of Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos had signed an agreement to finally complete the total transfer of control and sovereignty of the Canal to Panama, the United States invaded the Central American country in the midst of transition.
The Just Cause, as the operation of December 20, 1989 was called, had the objective of overthrowing the dictator Manuel Noriega, but along the way it left between hundreds and thousands of dead – the final balance is a long controversy in the country – and a deep fear among Panamanians of all types of foreign interference.
It would not be until December 30, 1999 that the transfer of the Canal to Panama would be completed and since then relations between both countries only began to improve. Now, the renowned Panamanian journalist Mary Triny Zea fears that what has been achieved in these years will be lost due to Trump’s radical stance.
“It is obviously an important issue and has dominated the news agenda in recent weeks. It is not just any news coming from the United States. In these years the bilateral relationship has been cordial, they have been a primary partner for Panama but now it takes a 180 degree turn and the country once again remembers the times when Colonia Americana No was sung,” he tells The Commerce referring to Lucho Bejarano’s song that became an anthem against American control over the Canal.
In addition to the arguments that Trump outlines, there is speculation that these threats could also be a kind of retaliation towards the country where he lost one of his hotels due to a court ruling issued in 2018 or for his recent refusal to welcome migrants that the new Administration.
“The most powerful megaphone in the world is being used to spread a wrong and false message, that is dangerous and has consequences in a time of misinformation. Furthermore, it is a thuggish attitude and it happens to originate days after Panama said it will not admit the migrants that Trump plans to return to Central America. Although there has not been direct communication on this issue, from that statement given by the president and the chancellor, this unfortunate behavior began that has frustrated the cordial relationship between the two countries,” says Zea.
“The most powerful megaphone in the world is being used to spread a wrong and false message.”
Mary Triny Zea, Panamanian journalist.
The rejection of Trump’s statements, according to the journalist, has transcended all social spectrums and political colors. Both the ruling party, the opposition and the citizens reject any scenario that leads to losing sovereignty over their territory. There have even been protests in front of the United States embassy in rejection of the statements, such as the one carried out on December 24 by members of the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers.
The international community has not been immune to the situation either. On Friday, the Latin American Reflection Table, an association that brings together hundreds of politicians, academics and diplomats, released a joint statement rejecting Trump’s threats and warning of the consequences that his execution could entail.
“The Canal represents years of struggle in Panama”
Interview
Aristides Royo, former president of Panama (1978 – 1982)
What does the Canal represent for Panamanians?
It represents years of struggles, moments of blood, decades in which Panama slowly advanced in its relationship with the United States. Since 1903 we were born with a right to intervention by the United States in our internal affairs. That was not removed until a 1936 treaty signed by Presidents Harmodio Arias and Franklin D. Roosevelt. But the United States Congress did not approve it until three years later. So, we received 250 thousand dollars a year for a long time, which was the amount paid for the use of the railroad. The previous treaties had given a lot, and I include the term perpetuity there, to the United States and very little to Panama. They took over a thousand or so square kilometers of our territory and acted as if they had been sovereign; That is, it did not belong in jurisdiction to the Republic of Panama.
Could you imagine living a scenario like the current one?
The curious thing is that if the Canal had been handed over to us before yesterday, we would say that there are still remnants of the colonialist position of the United States. But the Canal has just turned 25 years old, very well managed by the Panamanians. It is not an issue that is two years old but rather it takes 48 years between waiting and execution.
What do you think of the argument that China controls the Canal?
It is absurd to maintain that. It is based on a mistaken syllogism, whose first premise is that Panama puts the administration of the ports to tender, the second premise is that the United States does not win the tender but rather an English company domiciled in Hong Kong, and the third premise is that Hong Kong passes to Chinese administration. And there comes the wrong conclusion that when the territory becomes controlled by China, the Chinese government rules the ports. That is a false conclusion. It is as if they told me that China sets up a car factory in Panama and that is why it manages Panamanian traffic. The Canal is managed as a company, at no time has anything occurred to show that the Chinese decide on the administration of the ports.
How would you rate the administration of the Canal in these 25 years?
I would like to highlight the most important success. Just six years after entering the possession of the Republic of Panama, the expansion of the Canal was arranged. That is, the construction of two new locks, one towards the Pacific and the other towards the Atlantic. In 2016 the work was inaugurated and allows larger ships to cross.
Trump’s position involves appropriating foreign territory, what difference is there between that and what Vladimir Putin does in Ukraine?
It would be absurd for the government of a democratic country to come and invade a country with which it has treaties, including the Neutrality Treaty, which is supported by 48 countries and is in the OAS.
You have also been president, what can you tell us about a statement like Trump’s taking into account his inauguration?
Yes, I was president, but I was also a member of the negotiating team for the Torrijos – Carter Treaty and I chaired the Canal Board of Directors for five years. Getting the treaty was a great satisfaction for the Panamanians, who approved it in a plebiscite. It took a lot to pass it in the United States Senate. The Panama Canal is under the sovereignty of the Panamanian people, it is a reconquest consented to and signed by the United States that would be completely violated if they suddenly decided to take the ports by military force.
To what authorities could Panama appeal in this scenario?
Panama would act with all the dignity of the case, protected by national and international law. I am sure that he would seek international support, just as we did in 1973 seeking support from all Latin American countries, honorably including Peru, now we would seek international support and from the United Nations to tell Trump that a country cannot take these determinations against a sovereign country.
Crypto mining ecosystem – struggles and solutions – Teamspeed.com
Overcoming the challenges of crypto mining and finding the right ecosystem – Cloudhound Forum
ScoobyNet.com – Subaru Enthusiast Forum – Challenges with crypto mining ecosystems
Mining ecosystem headaches and how to handle them – Entertainment Discussions – Rome
Struggles with crypto mining setup and finding a proper solution – Anti-WoW Official Forum
Mining issues and ways to make it work better | Flokii
Tackling crypto mining inefficiencies by madinatarin < Journal | Inkbunny, the Furry Art Community
Show home:jimmelon / Mining – openSUSE Build Service
Making crypto mining less stressful – FakeIDVendors – Fake ID & Vendor Discussion
Crypto mining headaches and practical advice — siaenko's Journal — Fur Affinity [dot] net