- Title: PANAMA: STRIKING WORKERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE AND SOLDIERS
- Date: 4th August 1995
- Summary: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (AUGUST 4, 1995)(RTV) GV/SLV PROTESTERS IN THE STREETS CHANTING (2 SHOTS) SLV/PAN PANAMANIAN SOLDIERS RUNNING, THROWING STONES (3 SHOTS) SV ARMED PANAMANIAN SOLDERS DURING THE PROTEST/ PANAMANIAN SOLDIERS WATCHING THE PROTEST/FIRE TEAR GAS (5 SHOTS) GV WORKERS IN STREETS, VEHICLE DOWN ROAD/SV PANAMANIAN SOLDIER WATCHING (5 SHOTS) Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 16:52
- Keywords:
- Location: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
- Country: Panama
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9P0HNRWZ6M19DI546WZ6BOAMX
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: At least four people died and more than 300 were arrested on Friday (August 4) as striking Panamanian workers blocked streets and clashed with riot police over new labour legislation.
Stone-throwing students and workers battled riot police in parts of Panama City as strikers blocked traffic in the main streets, smashing the windows of vehicles that tried to pass, witnesses said.
At least 12 officers suffered gunshot wounds and seven protesters were injured as police countered rock-throwing crowds with tear-gas and birdshot, hospital sources said.
A total of 49 unions called a general strike on Friday to protest at proposed government legislation to make Panama's labour laws more flexible although most of the strike support appeared to come from two unions: the 25,000-strong construction workers' union and the 5,000-strong banana workers' union.
The existing labour legislation dates back to 1971 and was drawn up under the populist dictatorship of General Omar Torrijos.
President Ernesto Perez Balladares' government had proposed 73 reforms in order to try and attract more foreign investment to Panama.
The clashes were the biggest seen in Panama since protests in the late 1980's against then-dictator Manuel Noriega, witnesses said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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