Panama City, (EFE). – The Panamanian government declared a “state of emergency” in the Caribbean banana-growing province of Bocas del Toro on Friday after an “escalation” of violence the day before during demonstrations against a Social Security reform.
“The decision was taken to declare a ‘state of emergency’ in the entire province of Boca del Toro of the Republic of Panama,” said Minister of the Presidency Juan Carlos Orillac at a press conference following an emergency cabinet meeting called by President José Raúl Mulino.
“We are taking this measure to prevent radical and criminal groups from gathering to organize acts of violence, vandalism, endangering property and people who disturb peace and order,” added the minister.
The “state of emergency” has suspended constitutional guarantees for five days in Bocas del Toro, bordering Costa Rica.
Looting and vandalism
On Thursday night, protesters “looted” the facilities of Chiquita Panama in Changuinola after the banana company closed operations and dismissed all its workers in May, the day after laborers went on strike, reported the Government and the Police.
They also “partially set fire” to a baseball stadium and took over facilities at the Changuinola airport, stealing vehicles from rental companies and belongings from the terminal offices.
In addition, rioters lotted local businesses, according to official information.
Given the public order situation, some public institutions decided to suspend attention to the public on Friday.
The government, businessmen, and members of civil society rejected acts of “vandalism” in the region.
Panamanian authorities said the night before that the protests had escalated “dangerously” after the violent incidents, which aggravate the situation in Bocas del Toro, which has been under constant road blockades and clashes between police and demonstrators since April.
The Panamanian President had already sent 1,500 police units to clear the blocked roads, which left at least 55 arrests and 12 police officers injured.
Social Security reform
Protests against the current law reforming Social Security began in April throughout the country, pushed by some teachers’ and construction workers’ unions, which decided to go on strike.
The Panamanian government states that the demonstrations are politically motivated.
The protests gradually escalated, and in May, banana workers in Bocas del Toro joined the strike as they considered that the new law affected their labor benefits by modifying the 2017 one that regulated the sector.
Bocas del Toro became the protest epicenter with heavy road blockades that have caused basic supplies to run out in that province, which is isolated and economically dependent on the banana industry and tourism.
However, this week a new special law with greater labor benefits for banana workers came into force after deputies agreed with the sector’s unionists to lift the blockades in exchange for the approval of the law.
However, other sectors of civil society and teachers began new demonstrations with road blockades and confrontations, which hardened with the arrival this week of the police operation.EFE
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