Tuñón says he will not reinstate fired firefighters

LA PRENSA/Bienvenido Velasco

Desde las 8:00 a.m. de hoy un grupo de bomberos se declararon en huelga de hambre.

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18/03/2013 - Panama Fire Chief Pablo Tuñón said today that he will not reinstate the seven firefighters who were fired last week after a protest.

He said that these dismissals were done in accordance with the law and the internal regulations of the institution.

"I'm enforcing the law," Tuñón said. "This decision was not made on a whim, we had already warned them."

The firefighters were dismissed for using a fire truck during their protest, the second time this has happened

He said that, despite several attempts at dialogue, the firefighters have maintained a hard-line position of insubordination. He also said that while previous administrations have lied to the firefighters, he has been nothing but honest with them.

Gabriel Gómez, who chairs the Association of Firefighters, said that they will insist on the reconsideration of the dismissals, as established by the rules of procedure.

"We will continue to demand what is laid down in the regulations, and we will wait for the response of the director," said Gómez.