Panama suspends constitutional protections in the northwest after destructive protests
Associated PressJUN 21
Panama Declares Emergency in Bocas del Toro Province
Above: Riot police clash with workers and residents blocking access roads to Bocas del Toro in Panama, on June 14, 2025. Image copyright: Mauricio Valenzuela/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The government had no choice but to declare an emergency after criminal elements hijacked legitimate protests and turned them into violent riots. Masked vandals looted businesses, burned public facilities, and endangered lives by trapping police officers in a burning stadium. These aren't protesters anymore — they're criminals threatening public safety and democratic order.
Government-critical narrative
This emergency declaration is an authoritarian overreach that strips away fundamental constitutional rights from an entire province. The government is using isolated incidents of violence to justify suspending freedoms of assembly and expression, essentially criminalizing all dissent against unpopular pension reforms that hurt working families.