This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20012842
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Panama protests over land sale in Colon free trade zone | Panama protests over land sale in Colon free trade zone |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Hundreds of demonstrators in Panama burned tyres and clashed with police hours after the National Assembly approved legislation allowing the sale of land in the duty-free zone of Colon. | Hundreds of demonstrators in Panama burned tyres and clashed with police hours after the National Assembly approved legislation allowing the sale of land in the duty-free zone of Colon. |
Protesters fear the new legislation will cost jobs and cut incomes. | Protesters fear the new legislation will cost jobs and cut incomes. |
More than 2,000 companies operate in the lucrative free trade port area, at the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal. | More than 2,000 companies operate in the lucrative free trade port area, at the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal. |
President Ricardo Martinelli appealed for calm and said the sale of state-owned land will benefit the region. | |
He said "agitators" and "small-minded interests" were behind the protests in the city of Colon. | He said "agitators" and "small-minded interests" were behind the protests in the city of Colon. |
According to the law, 35% of the proceedings generated by the sale of land will go to a trust for "social investments" in the area. | According to the law, 35% of the proceedings generated by the sale of land will go to a trust for "social investments" in the area. |
The other 65% will go the central government in the Central American nation. | The other 65% will go the central government in the Central American nation. |
"We do not want the land to be sold because these are assets that belong to Colon," Felipe Cabezas, head of the Colonense Broad Movement, told the AP news agency. | "We do not want the land to be sold because these are assets that belong to Colon," Felipe Cabezas, head of the Colonense Broad Movement, told the AP news agency. |
The city of Colon has one of the largest free trade ports in the world, in operation since the 1950s. | The city of Colon has one of the largest free trade ports in the world, in operation since the 1950s. |
It sits at the end of the Panama Canal and just outside the former Panama Canal Zone. | It sits at the end of the Panama Canal and just outside the former Panama Canal Zone. |
The canal, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, is Panama's main source of revenue. | The canal, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, is Panama's main source of revenue. |
Panama has been running the waterway since 1999, when the United States handed over control. | Panama has been running the waterway since 1999, when the United States handed over control. |
Work in the expansion of the canal has been going on for years and should be completed in time for its centenary in 2014. | Work in the expansion of the canal has been going on for years and should be completed in time for its centenary in 2014. |
Previous version
1
Next version