Protests Break Out In Panama Over Unionist Arrests

Panama City: Thousands of people took to the streets in Panama Friday 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.

On Friday, protesters marched peacefully, thronging the capital's main coastal avenue in a sea of red, white and blue Panamanian flags, as police looked on.

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"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 Thursday, 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 Wednesday.

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 and banana workers launched almost a month ago.

Public school teachers have also observed work stoppages.

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