Panama City, July 15 (Prensa Latina) The People United for Life coalition, protagonist of the protests in Panama against the high cost of living, today denounced the repressive measures taken by the National Police (PN) in Chiriquí province.
According to Saúl Méndez, general secretary of the Unified Union of Construction Workers and Allied Industries (Suntracs), agents in the municipalities of El Sapo and 20 de Diciembre of this western demarcation line fired anti-riot projectiles and injured protesters.
The union leader blamed the attack and its consequences on the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo; the Minister of Security, Juan Manuel Pino; and PN Director General Jhon Dorneim.
The repression, he said, will only motivate people to ignite in the actions maintained for just social demands.
After the police repression, the residents of Chirica retook the Risacua Bridge and that is what Méndez said, pointing to the solidarity with this people.
At the same time, he called on the law enforcement agencies to sit down and engage in serious dialogue with the real actors in the protests and seek concrete solutions to the high prices of fuel, food and medicine, and to achieve decent employment and an overall increase in labor wages.
At a press conference of the People United for Life coalition, another of its spokesmen, Fernando Ábrego, Secretary General of the Union of Teachers of Panama, announced a vigil this Saturday in Chiriquí and in the districts of Pácora and Chepo in the province of Panama.
Also tomorrow, the main leaders of the popular movements, trade unions and professional associations, farmers, transporters, doctors, indigenous people and students will meet at the University of Panama to define new pressure actions throughout the national territory.
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