DEMONSTRATION IN PANAMA

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25969, 24 November 1949, Page 7

DEMONSTRATION IN PANAMA

FORMER PRESIDENT LEADS CROWDS. POLICE OPEN FIRE (Rec. 9 p.m.) PANAMA CITY, November 22. National police opened fire as thousands of demonstrators led by the former President (Mr Daniel Chanis) marched on the Presidential residence to-night. A boy was killed and five wounded, including a member of Parliament. The surprise appearance of Mr Chanis in the National Assembly set off the demonstration. Mr Chanis tore up the letter of resignation he signed last Sunday after the coup by the national police. When Mr Chanis said: “I withdraw my resign'ation,” hundreds of persons in the galleries streamed from the building into the streets shouting: “To the Presidential residence.” Estimates of the crowd in the demonstration ranged from 10,000 to 30,000. Police fired rifles and machine-guns at the demonstrators, who broke up before reaching the residence where Mr Roberto Chiari was installed as President on Sunday.

The United Press correspondent said the centre of.the city become a scene of utter confusion when the .firing broke out. Some demonstrators answered the police fire. Shooting also occurred near the offices of the opposition newspaper, the “Panama American,” the national university, police headquarters, and gaol. One policeman was killed. Fighting appeared to have ceased late to-night.