We followed closely the news about the situation between the indigeneous and the police and things seem to have taken a drastic turn in the last few days from the peaceful protest.
What was originally a reasonable reason for protest by the Indians started turning nasty as we saw images of Indians being filmed burning down police stations and attacking the police.
As days went by, the blockade on the main highway had been forcefully cleared by the police using big tractors, and though the road seemed clear, it was not safe as images were shown of Indians throwing rocks at all passing vehicles from a hill located next to the main highway.
The reasons for protest now seem blurred, leaving a bad taste in many people´s mouth who had been affected by the blockades, as not only did it prevent people from travelling across Panama, it also prevented food supplies and petrol tankers from getting to where it needs to go.
There was nothing we could do, so we made the best of our stay in Bocas and visited another island (Zapatilla) on one of the days.
Zapatilla was incredibly beautiful, isolated (no accomodation on the island) and unspoilt. The rest of the days we just lazed about and hoping with all hopes to get back to our boat as soon as possible.
In fact, earlier this afternoon we checked out of our hotel and made our way to the ferry terminal to catch a speed boat back to Almirante to stay for the night, hoping that the blockades would be over soon.
The other reason is because no one on Bocas could give us proper information about the blockades between Almirante and David, and considering that the situation has gone on for so long, we felt that it should start to ease out by now.
However when we headed to the ferry terminal, the lady at the counter told us that electricity has been cut off in Almirante by the Indians, and we thus headed back to our hotel and checked back in again for the third time! The staff definitely had a good laugh over our plight (Situation in the hotel was not that great either, with lots of booking cancellation, as the only way in and out of Bocas for now is by air)
It was at 6.30pm today that it was announced over the news that some discussions had progressed between the Indian chief (a lady by the way) and the Government, and an agreement had been signed where further discussions will take place, so officially blockades will be over by tomorrow morning.
Finally!
What was originally a reasonable reason for protest by the Indians started turning nasty as we saw images of Indians being filmed burning down police stations and attacking the police.
As days went by, the blockade on the main highway had been forcefully cleared by the police using big tractors, and though the road seemed clear, it was not safe as images were shown of Indians throwing rocks at all passing vehicles from a hill located next to the main highway.
The reasons for protest now seem blurred, leaving a bad taste in many people´s mouth who had been affected by the blockades, as not only did it prevent people from travelling across Panama, it also prevented food supplies and petrol tankers from getting to where it needs to go.
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| Laying in a hammock |
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| Zapatilla |
Zapatilla was incredibly beautiful, isolated (no accomodation on the island) and unspoilt. The rest of the days we just lazed about and hoping with all hopes to get back to our boat as soon as possible.
In fact, earlier this afternoon we checked out of our hotel and made our way to the ferry terminal to catch a speed boat back to Almirante to stay for the night, hoping that the blockades would be over soon.
The other reason is because no one on Bocas could give us proper information about the blockades between Almirante and David, and considering that the situation has gone on for so long, we felt that it should start to ease out by now.
However when we headed to the ferry terminal, the lady at the counter told us that electricity has been cut off in Almirante by the Indians, and we thus headed back to our hotel and checked back in again for the third time! The staff definitely had a good laugh over our plight (Situation in the hotel was not that great either, with lots of booking cancellation, as the only way in and out of Bocas for now is by air)
It was at 6.30pm today that it was announced over the news that some discussions had progressed between the Indian chief (a lady by the way) and the Government, and an agreement had been signed where further discussions will take place, so officially blockades will be over by tomorrow morning.
Finally!
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