- Panama cuts internet, cell phones in restive province
- Panama declares state of emergency over deadly pension protests
- Panama declares emergency in western province after deadly pension protests
- Panama declares emergency over banana region unrest
AFP
Sat, June 21, 2025
Anti-government protests have impacted the major banana-producing region of Bocas del Toro
ASBEL LLORENT/AFP/AFP
Panamanian authorities on Saturday partially suspended internet and mobile phone service in a western province where a state of emergency was in effect after two months of anti-government unrest.
Right-wing President Jose Raul Mulino declared the emergency on Friday, suspending freedom of assembly and movement in Bocas del Toro province, where protesters have set up roadblocks and damaged the airport, businesses and offices.
The National Authority for Public Services said on X that based on the emergency decree, "the temporary suspension of mobile phone and residential internet service has been coordinated in the province of Bocas del Toro until June 25."
Internet service would remain available for health care, businesses and government entities, the agency said.
Anti-government protests began almost two months ago in the major banana-producing region of Bocas del Toro.
They turned violent Thursday in the city of Changuinola when groups of hooded individuals looted businesses and partially set fire to a baseball stadium with police officers inside, authorities said.
The unrest has seen one dead, more than 100 arrested, and dozens injured, including 13 police officers, according to authorities.
Mulino has been facing protests on several fronts in recent months.
Workers with US banana giant Chiquita in Bocas del Toro went on strike in late April over pension reforms adopted by Congress, which critics say will force them to work longer.
Chiquita sacked thousands of workers over the strike.
The banana growers' unions called off their protest last week in a bid to reverse the layoffs but other groups have remained at the barricades.
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.
The US Embassy in Panama issued a security alert Friday prohibiting American government staffers from traveling to Bocas del Toro "until further notice."
cmm/mis/dg/cls/dth/acb/bjt
Panama declares state of emergency over deadly pension protests
Panamanian authorities on Saturday partially suspended internet and mobile phone service in a western province where a state of emergency was in effect after two months of anti-government unrest.
Right-wing President Jose Raul Mulino declared the emergency on Friday, suspending freedom of assembly and movement in Bocas del Toro province, where protesters have set up roadblocks and damaged the airport, businesses and offices.
The National Authority for Public Services said on X that based on the emergency decree, "the temporary suspension of mobile phone and residential internet service has been coordinated in the province of Bocas del Toro until June 25."
Internet service would remain available for health care, businesses and government entities, the agency said.
Anti-government protests began almost two months ago in the major banana-producing region of Bocas del Toro.
They turned violent Thursday in the city of Changuinola when groups of hooded individuals looted businesses and partially set fire to a baseball stadium with police officers inside, authorities said.
The unrest has seen one dead, more than 100 arrested, and dozens injured, including 13 police officers, according to authorities.
Mulino has been facing protests on several fronts in recent months.
Workers with US banana giant Chiquita in Bocas del Toro went on strike in late April over pension reforms adopted by Congress, which critics say will force them to work longer.
Chiquita sacked thousands of workers over the strike.
The banana growers' unions called off their protest last week in a bid to reverse the layoffs but other groups have remained at the barricades.
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.
The US Embassy in Panama issued a security alert Friday prohibiting American government staffers from traveling to Bocas del Toro "until further notice."
cmm/mis/dg/cls/dth/acb/bjt
Panama declares state of emergency over deadly pension protests
AFP
Fri, June 20, 2025
Anti-government protesters clashed with police and vandalized businesses in Bocas del Toro province in a two-month-long dispute over pension reforms (ASBEL LLORENT)ASBEL LLORENT/AFP/AFPMore
Panama on Friday declared a state of emergency in western Bocas del Toro province, where anti-government protesters are accused of setting fire to a baseball stadium and of looting businesses, including a provincial airport.
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 around 30 people, including several officers, the police said.
Over 50 people were arrested over the unrest.
The clashes came after a huge police contingent was deployed to try clear roads that the protesters had blocked with tree trunks for weeks.
The violence peaked in the city of Changuinola on Thursday, where groups of hooded individuals looted businesses and partially set fire to a baseball stadium with police officers inside, the authorities said.
The police said that "vandals" also "took over" the airport, stole vehicles belonging to car rental companies and looted an office and a warehouse containing supplies belonging to US banana giant Chiquita Brands.
The minister of the presidency, Juan Carlos Orillac, said that the government had decided to declare a state of emergency and suspend constitutional guarantees" in all of Bocas del Toro, "in order to restore peace and order."
He said the ban on public gatherings aimed to prevent "radical and criminal groups gathering to organize acts of violence and vandalism which endanger property and people."
Right-wing President Jose Raul Mulino has been facing protests on several fronts in recent months.
Chiquita workers in Bocas del Toro went on strike in late April over pension reforms adopted by Congress in April, which workers say will force them to work longer.
Chiquita sacked thousands of workers over the strike.
The banana growers' unions called off their protest last week in a bid to reverse the layoffs but other groups have remained at the barricades.
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 one of Central America's biggest copper mines.
jjr/fj/cb/bgs
Panama declares emergency in western province after deadly pension protests
Al Jazeera
Sat, June 21, 2025
Demonstrators attend an antigovernment rally in Panama City on June 20, 2025 [Martin Bernetti/AFP]
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways
Panama has declared a state of emergency in western Bocas del Toro province, where antigovernment protesters opposing a pension reform law are accused of setting fire to a baseball stadium and of looting businesses, including a provincial airport.
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.
Panama declares emergency over banana region unrest
Leonardo Rocha - BBC World Service Latin America editor
and Jaroslav Lukiv - BBC News
Fri, June 20, 2025
Masked protesters clash with law enforcement officers in Valle de Agua Abajo, Bocas del Toro [EPA]
Panama has declared an emergency in its main banana-producing region, after shops were looted and buildings vandalised in ongoing protests over a pension reform.
The government says constitutional rights will be suspended for the next five days in the north-western Bocas del Toro province.
The measure restricts freedom of movement and allows the police to make arrests without a warrant.
Troubles in the region began a month ago, when the local banana workers union joined a nationwide protest against proposed pension cuts and declared a strike.
"In the face of the disruption of order and acts of systematic violence, the state will enforce its constitutional mandate to guarantee peace," said Juan Carlos Orillac, minister of the presidency.
The measure, he added, would allow to "rescue the province" from radicals.
Protests across the Latin American nation erupted back in March over the pension reform.
In Bocas del Toro, the unrest has been largely led by workers at a Chiquita Brands banana plantation.
The confrontation escalated last month after the company sacked thousands of striking employees.
Protesters have been setting up roadblocks in the province, often clashing with police.
Earlier this week, crowds damaged one of Chiquita Brands' facilities as well as a local airport.
Panama country profile
Fri, June 20, 2025
Masked protesters clash with law enforcement officers in Valle de Agua Abajo, Bocas del Toro [EPA]
Panama has declared an emergency in its main banana-producing region, after shops were looted and buildings vandalised in ongoing protests over a pension reform.
The government says constitutional rights will be suspended for the next five days in the north-western Bocas del Toro province.
The measure restricts freedom of movement and allows the police to make arrests without a warrant.
Troubles in the region began a month ago, when the local banana workers union joined a nationwide protest against proposed pension cuts and declared a strike.
"In the face of the disruption of order and acts of systematic violence, the state will enforce its constitutional mandate to guarantee peace," said Juan Carlos Orillac, minister of the presidency.
The measure, he added, would allow to "rescue the province" from radicals.
Protests across the Latin American nation erupted back in March over the pension reform.
In Bocas del Toro, the unrest has been largely led by workers at a Chiquita Brands banana plantation.
The confrontation escalated last month after the company sacked thousands of striking employees.
Protesters have been setting up roadblocks in the province, often clashing with police.
Earlier this week, crowds damaged one of Chiquita Brands' facilities as well as a local airport.
Panama country profile
No comments:
Post a Comment