No, but it puts the administration in a very good position to stop all the BS protests, which will be done before Carnival at the end of next week. Also the public statement by Varela about irresponsible actions of PRD, communists, and enviro-activists was useful. It shows that the CD coalition with the Panamista Party is sound. Varela will be the next president.
I just hope the indians listen to their leaders and not those who are paying them to protest. If not, then there will be a lot of arrests and bloodshed tomorrow. Latin Americans tend to like strong leaders and Martinelli will flex some muscle. Riot police will ask nicely, then use tear gas, then buckshot, and if that all fails to stop the road closings they will shoot them down IMO. H&K .308 always trumps spears, if it comes to that. I hope that the indians just go back to their jungle, but I think they are getting supplied a lot of cash and booze.
There is no way any of this can affect PTQ/PDI or Cobre Panama. It is just a shame to see ignorant, humble people exploited for political gains. They are telling these indians that the mine is coming to their reservation, that it is radioactive, that it is full of explosives, that it will bring diseases, that their children will all die. They do not know what to believe.
AI
