Protests in Panama

Banana dispute fuels violence – conflict with giant companies

Employees of banana giant Chiquita are largely behind the violence in the province of Bocas del Toro in Panama, writes the BBC.

Protests against a newly hammered welfare reform have been going on in the Latin American country since last spring and it caused the company's unionized employees in Bocas del Toro, the main province for banana cultivation, to go on strike.

The conflict escalated last month when thousands of workers were fired. In the subsequent protests, demonstrators looted an office and a warehouse belonging to the American fruit company.

State of emergency in Panama after major pension protests

The Panamanian government has declared a state of emergency after protests against a pension reform degenerated into violence and vandalism in the province of Bocas del Toro, reports the BBC.

This means, among other things, that people's right to move freely is restricted for five days, and that during the same period the police are allowed to make arrests without a warrant.

Protests against the country's welfare system have been ongoing nationally since March and gained momentum in Bocas del Toro about two weeks ago. Demonstrators have looted stores and set fire to a baseball stadium, among other things.

More than 50 people have been arrested, writes France24.