Venezuela Cuts Ties with Panama  · Global Voices
Ariel Moreno

Sorprende decisión del Gobierno de Venezuela. Panamá solo anhela que ese hermano país encuentre la paz y fortalezca su democracia
— Ricardo Martinelli (@rmartinelli) March 5, 2014
Surprising decision from the Government of Venezuela. Panama only hopes this fellow country finds peace and strengthens its democracy.
This is how the president of Panama reacted upon finding out that Venezuela's government was cutting ties with them.
The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, announced that he would not allow anyone to conspire against Venezuela and accused President Martinelli of being “a lackey and a snake.” The accusation is based on the Panamanian government's request that the Permanent Council of the OAS (Organization of American States) meet to discuss the issue of Venezuela's internal conflicts.
Reactions on social networks have been ironic and angry over the actions of the South American country's government. Most Panamanians feel that President Maduro has some nerve breaking diplomatic and commercial relations with Panama when Venezuela has a debt between $800 million and $1 billion US dollars to the Colón Free Trade Zone. Charlie Cuevas says:
Que cómodo romper relaciones comerciales #Venezuela cuando le debes 1,000 millones de dólares a #Panama #SOSvenezuela
— Charlie Cuevas (@CharlieCuevas) March 5, 2014
How convenient it is for you, Venezuela, to cut commercial ties with Panama when you owe them 1 billion dollars
For other users, the Panamanian government is to blame for intervening in the internal affairs of other countries.
Que hace el Gob de Panamá opinando y metiendose en los asuntos internos de Venezuela?
— Dreetti RiDdiM  (@An_Dreetti) March 5, 2014
What is the Government of Panama doing giving their opinion on and meddling with Venezuela's internal issues?
Erick Javier clarifies that the only people that can call President Ricardo Martinelli a “lackey” and a “snake” are Panamanians:
El unico que puede llamar lacayo y rastrero a Martinello somos nosotros los Panameños @ElGallinazo
— Erick Javier ™ (@ErickJavier21) March 5, 2014
The only people that can call Martinelli a lackey and a snake are us Panamanians
Likewise, former president of Panama Ernesto Perez Balladares condemned the incident and how it was handled:
Yo adverso al Pdte. Martinelli pero no puedo aceptar que contra él ni contra ningún panameño se utilicen insultos impropios de un mandatario
— Pérez Balladares (@PerezBalladares) March 5, 2014
I do not agree with Pres. Martinelli but I cannot accept that inappropriate insults be used against him or any other Panamanian
For “Noticias sin censura” (“Uncensored News”), the Venezuelan government's decision is unwise since many of the products consumed in Venezuela are imported and pass through the Panama Canal:
Un país q importa 80% de lo q consume, casi todo pasando por Panamá, rompe relaciones económicas con ese país. Del carajo #5M #Venezuela
— #NoticiasSinCensura (@NotaSinCensura) March 5, 2014
A country that imports 80% of what it consumes, almost all of that passing through Panama, breaks economic relations with that country. What the hell?
Venezuelan Rocio San Miguel commented that the break in relations will only bring about more complications to the shortages that Venezuela is already suffering from:
La ruptura de relaciones con Panamá complicará en extremo el ya problemático abastecimiento nacional por vía marítima
— Rocío San Miguel (@rociosanmiguel) March 5, 2014
The break in relations with Panama will extremely complicate the already problematic national supply by sea
Fredy Marcial tweeted about a supposed invasion requested by Martinelli:
Presidente d Panamá es d la dinastía fam que apoyó la invasión de EE.UU a su pais por el canal, ahora ese lacayo pid que invada a Venezuela
— Freddy Marcial (@makeday) March 5, 2014
President of Panama belongs to the family dynasty that supported the U.S. invasion into its country via the canal, now this lackey asks to invade Venezuela
Lastly, Colombia Senator Juan Lozano believes that the reaction from the Venezuelan government is just an indication of desperation and agony:
Reacciòn de Maduro frente a Panamà deja ver la desesperaciòn, la angustia y la soledad tìpica de un règimen delirante a punto de colapsar.
— Juan Lozano (@JuanLozano_R) March 5, 2014
Maduro's reaction against Panama reveals the despair, anguish, and loneliness of a delirious regime on the brink of collapse.