A group of U.S. investors claimed that the government of Panama violated the FTA by not allowing them to purchase contested beachfront property and by not halting acts of harassment against the investors. The government denied the investors' bid for the beachfront property on the basis that the property was too close to the Costa Rica border to be sold to foreigners under Panamanian law -- a claim that the investors refuted. The investors alleged that an "illegal" road was then constructed on other property that they had purchased, and that local authorities were complicit in subsequent acts of intimidation against the investors. They asserted violations of Panama FTA provisions regarding national treatment, expropriation, fair and equitable treatment, and protection and security. Pending, asking $98.5 Million
As one can see, many of these make "Buy American" (or local) illegal thus potentially hurting the local job market and economy. A claim brought out by Wikileaks and told as not true by Obama. Obama simply says, "Trust Me".
They will also strip taxpayer dollars in order to pay legal fees, even though the people will not be represented in these tribunal hearings, they will be required to pay even though they may prevail.
In view of the power corporations will have one might ask, "What is the need for Congress"? After all once these agreements go into effect these corporations won't have a need for them either and will "fire" them by not having to bribe them into making laws fit their needs. These agreements will do that, in spades. The people haven't had their representation for over three decades and will have even less need for them now as any laws or "safe guards" they may wish to impose can easily be overruled as they will be deemed violating the petitioner's right to a "minimum standard of treatment" and the taxpayer will be forced to pay they deem to be their potential loss to future profits.
The "New World Order" has arrived! Obama's yelling "Trust Me" is the sound of the death knell of democracy.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
7
4
3
