Latest news with #Suntracs
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Protests break out in Panama over unionists' arrests
Protesters thronged Panama City's main coastal avenue in a sea of red, white and blue Panamanian flags. (AP pic) PANAMA CITY : Thousands of people took to the streets in Panama today to protest against the arrests of two trade unionists who had been leading demonstrations against the government of President Jose Raul Mulino. Two leaders of the powerful Suntracs construction union have been detained over the past week and are being held on money laundering charges, which they reject. Today, protesters marched peacefully, thronging the capital's main coastal avenue in a sea of red, white and blue Panamanian flags, as police looked on. 'Our leaders have been brutally repressed by the government because it doesn't tolerate us raising our voices against all these neoliberal policies,' unionist Hector Hurtado told AFP. Suntracs is fighting the Panamanian government on several fronts, including pension reform. Genaro Lopez, the former leader of the union, was arrested yesterday, a week after another union member, Jaime Caballero, was detained. The two have denied the accusations against them, maintaining they are the victims of political persecution. The head of the leftist union, Saul Mendez, meanwhile scaled the fence of the Bolivian embassy to seek asylum on Thursday. Masked police also raided several Suntracs offices, including its headquarters in Panama City. Mulino has branded the left-wing union 'a mafia'. The organisation often leads protests against his right-wing government focused on issues ranging from social security reforms, an agreement allowing US troops to deploy to bases along the Panama Canal, and moves to reopen a contested copper mine. Suntracs is one of the organisers of an indefinite strike by construction and banana workers launched almost a month ago. Public school teachers have also observed work stoppages.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Panamanian union leader seeks asylum at Bolivian embassy
PANAMA CITY: top union leader involved in protests against Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino scaled the fence of the Bolivian embassy to seek asylum Wednesday, authorities said, following the arrest of a colleague. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The powerful is fighting the Panamanian government on several fronts, including pension reform. Saul Mendez's asylum plea came after authorities recently detained another union leader, Jaime Caballero, on suspicion of money laundering. According to Panama's foreign ministry, "in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Mr Mendez climbed over the fence of the diplomatic mission, knocked on the door, and with a note in hand requested political asylum." The embassy informed Panama that the request would be considered by Bolivia's national refugee council, the ministry said in a statement. Following Mendez's asylum plea, prosecutors announced it had issued an arrest warrant against "Panamanian citizens" as part of a probe into Suntracs for suspected aggravated fraud, money laundering and illicit association. The statement did not mention any names, but local media reported the warrants targeted Mendez and former union leader Genaro Lopez. Masked police also raided several Suntracs offices, including its headquarters in Panama City. Mulino has branded the left-wing union "a mafia." The organization often leads protests against his right-wing government focused on issues ranging from social security reforms, an agreement allowing US troops to deploy to bases along the Panama Canal, and moves to reopen a contested copper mine. Suntracs is one of the organizers of an indefinite strike by construction workers launched almost a month ago.
