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As a mockery, some teachers, administrators and students see the sanction of Law 292 of April 1, 2022, which reorganizes the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi) by modifying Law 4 of 2006.
Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, sanctioned this law that allows the re-election of Rector Etelvina de Bonagas, who has remained in office for almost 10 years.
“For teachers, administrators and our students with dignity, it is a mockery that on April 1, 2022, the President of the Republic sanctioned that disastrous law that could possibly allow Mrs. Bonagas to be re-elected,” said the professor of the Faculty of Economics of the Unachi, Ilka Esribí, by assuring that both in the country and at the national level, people have seen what really happens inside this house of higher studies.
The teacher assures that despite the fact that there may be reprisals for opposing the Bonagas regime, they will not lower their guard and will continue their fight. “Now another phase of the struggle begins, we will continue as opposition groups taking actions that we will inform soon,” she specified.
For several weeks, the educational community of Unachi protested to demand that President Cortizo partially veto the Law that reorganizes the house of higher education, there was repression by the National Police crowd control.
This law will also contribute to the university in the development of the plans, projects and initiatives established for the optimal functioning of said institution are not interrupted. It also provides for payment of the seniority premium, and establishes a pension for old age or voluntary resignation.
Estribí stressed that “the state of continuous violations of the country’s Magna Carta, the abuse of students, workers, the civilian population, for defending their rights is not unique in (the city) Panama, it is also lived here (in Chiriquí)” . He said that sometimes legal appeals are filed, many times administrators and teachers are dismissed without evidence, for opposing what they consider unfair, in addition to filing appeals with the Public Ministry and nothing happens.
On Twitter, part of the population that also opposes the reelection commented on this sanction, for example the lawyer and former Minister of Public Security Rodolfo Aguilera who expressed that in Unachi, the vote of 800 teachers is worth 60% of the vote and the of 20,000 students is only worth 30%. “That’s not democracy, it’s oligarchy,” he said. “By consecrating the re-election of the Rector, the purchase, with salary increases, by the Rector, of the overvalued teacher vote is promoted,” he specified.
The former accounts attorney, Guido Rodríguez, also referred to the issue and said that despite the evidence “of possible irregular handling under the current Unachi administration, President Cortizo decides to sanction the Law that prolongs over time, a management separated from the parameters principles raised in the Code of Ethics for public servants”.
