Chávez accused of backing protests against Torrijos

[Bacchus39]

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/02/19/en_pol_art_chavez-accused-of-ba_19A1372601.shtml

Intelligence agencies in Panama accused the government of President Hugo Chávez of funding a subversive plan against the government of Panamanian ruler Martín Torrijos where the trade union of construction workers (Suntracs) is playing the major role, Monday said daily newspaper La Estrella.

Suntracs has been in the center of violent street protests after trade union leader Al Iromi Smith was shot dead by the police. According to the National Front for Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso), to which Suntracs is attached, Torrijos is sending a message to "justify the killings and the crackdown on the people," said Mexican daily newspaper El Universal.

According to La Estrella, an investigation conducted by the Panama government "has unveiled the ties between Suntracs and Argentinean-Venezuelan citizen Fernando Bossi, who is the secretary of organization of the Bolivarian People's Congress. This group, created in Caracas in 2004, has branches everywhere in Latin America and is supported by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Bossi is in and out the country very frequently, according to official sources."

According to La Estrella, Panama vice-president Rubén Arosemena met last week with media directors to show them the intelligence reports linking Suntracs' leaders to pro-Chávez groups. Newspaper Panamá América wondered in an editorial whether Chávez "is behind all this."

Last Friday, Panama police arrested Venezuelan citizens Rafael Balza Rodríguez and Robert Regges Ron while they were taking part in demonstrations where 14 officers were injured, DPA reported.

On Monday, Suntracs leader Saúl Méndez confirmed he knew Argentinean-Venezuelan citizen Fernando Bossi.