Panama declares emergency in western province after deadly pension protests
The protests that erupted two months ago in Bocas del Toro, a major banana-producing region, intensified this week, culminating in clashes with police that left one person dead and injured about 30 people, including several officers, police said on Friday.
Presidential Minister Juan Carlos Orillac said in a news conference on Friday that the move to suspend some constitutional rights and ban public gatherings would allow the government to reestablish order and 'rescue' the province from 'radical groups', adding that the damage caused to public properties was 'unacceptable and did not represent a legitimate protest'.
'In the face of the disruption of order and acts of systematic violence, the state will enforce its constitutional mandate to guarantee peace,' he said.
The measure will be in place for five days, he said.The protesters, backed by unions and Indigenous groups across the country, have faced off with authorities over a pension reform law passed in March.
Confrontations have been particularly intense in Bocas del Toro, largely led by workers at a local Chiquita banana plantation. The multinational banana giant Chiquita called the workers' strike an 'unjustified abandonment of work' and sacked thousands of employees.
Those workers ultimately withdrew from the protests after they were able to negotiate the restoration of some benefits that had been removed under the March pension reform.
Still, the government has said roadblocks in Bocas del Toro have yet to be lifted, though it did not directly attribute them to the Chiquita workers.
The violence peaked in the city of Changuinola, Bocas del Toro's main city, on Thursday when groups of hooded individuals looted businesses and partially set fire to a baseball stadium with police officers inside, authorities said.
Police said 'vandals took over' the local airport, stole vehicles belonging to car rental companies, and looted an office and a warehouse containing supplies belonging to Chiquita. Flights at the airport were still suspended on Friday.
Panama's right-wing President Jose Raul Mulino has been facing protests on several fronts in recent months.
Besides the pension reforms, Panamanians have also been in the streets over a deal Mulino struck with US President Donald Trump in April allowing US troops to deploy to Panamanian bases along the Panama Canal.
Mulino made the concession to Trump after the US leader repeatedly threatened to 'take back' the US-built waterway.
Mulino has also angered environmentalists by threatening to reopen Cobre Panama, one of Central America's biggest copper mines.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump admin: Social Security policy set for mid-August now optional
(NewsNation) — The Trump administration has clarified that a change to the Social Security Administration's phone policy is optional. The new policy, which had a start date of Aug. 18, would have required millions of Social Security recipients to travel to field offices for routine account updates and have to go online to get a security authentication PIN. AARP sent a letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano on Tuesday, saying that the change would create an obstacle for seniors, people with disabilities and those who lack access to a computer or internet. About 3.4 million more people would have been forced to go to a field office, which has recently seen staffing cuts. 85% of parents worry about tariffs affecting back-to-school cost: Survey The SSA later said that any Social Security beneficiaries and account holders aren't required to visit a field office if they choose not to use the authentication PIN, according to Axios. Some Social Security offices had plans to close this year due to federal spending cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). SSA later said the offices would not close permanently, but only from a 'time to time basis' due to weather, damage or 'facilities issues.' More than 68 million people throughout the U.S. receive Social Security benefits, and more people are starting to rely heavily on the monthly payments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Taking criminals off the street is ‘common sense, not political,' says retired FBI agent
Retired FBI supervisory special agent Jason Pack considers reports of falling crime in major U.S. cities on 'Fox Report.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Alabama farmer sees new interest within days of Trump's tomato tariff — and says former trade deal ‘never worked' for US
With President Trump's latest tariff announcement, the price of tomatoes could soon be going up in the U.S. On July 14, the Trump Administration announced a 17% tariff on tomatoes imported from Mexico, ending a decades-long trade deal that kept the price of importing tomatoes down in the U.S. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it 'Mexico remains one of our greatest allies, but for far too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes,' said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in the press release. 'That ends today.' And while some Americans may not be in support of additional tariffs levied against America's international trade partners, several U.S. farmers stand in strong support of Trump's latest trade move. 'Been two days now and we've actually had a lot more calls' For decades, U.S. and Mexican tomato operations worked under a trade agreement that allowed for relatively easy importation of Mexican tomatoes into U.S. markets. The deal was meant to protect American tomato farmers, but many believe the old trade agreement didn't do enough. 'There's been loopholes that the Mexican tomato producers have taken advantage of and continue to price dump, or lower the prices below the cost of production here in the United States and in Alabama," Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, told WVTM 13 News. Chad Smith of Smith Tomato Farms in St. Clair County, Alabama echoed Thaxton's concerns with the old trade deal with Mexico. 'If they send the tomatoes over and it's supposed to be a set price and they need to move tomatoes, well, they may just give a load of bell peppers for free for them to take the tomatoes. So, it's never really worked,' said Smith. American tomato farmers had long felt as if they were hard-pressed to compete with the imports from Mexico, but several of them now see better times ahead with Trump's latest tariff news. 'It's only been two days now and we've actually had a lot more calls from people who have an interest in doing business," said Smith. 'And the price hasn't even changed.' As for Thaxton, he believes the potential of a sustainable future for U.S. tomato farmers is important. 'Food security is national security, and we need to be able to produce our own food here in the United States,' said Thaxton. Read more: Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can How the new tariff may affect your wallet While some American farmers are hopeful that the tomato tariff will impact their bottom line in a positive way, there's a concern that the changing policy will lead to higher prices at the grocery store. After all, the costs of producing tomatoes are higher in the U.S., thanks in part to American farms paying their workers up to 10 times more per hour than farm workers in Mexico. Thaxton believes the rising tomato costs won't be too dramatic, but other experts appear to be more concerned. In fact, some predict the new tomato tariff could push prices up by 10%. Since American farms face significantly higher production costs than Mexican growers — this includes wages, land, regulation, insurance, property taxes and equipment — these costs may be passed along to American consumers at the grocery store. At this moment, it's tough to predict the exact outcome that the tariff will have on the U.S. tomato market. While it looks like the tariff could help American farmers, it's unclear whether or not it will help American wallets. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
