Panama: Protester killed, 100 people hurt in clash between striking banana workers and police
By Associated Press
11:51 p.m. EDT, July 8, 2010
An unidentified man is aid after being injured during
clashes with police in Changuinola, western Panama,
Thursday, July 8, 2010. One man died and dozens were
injured as banana union workers clashed with police
during a protest to repeal recently tax laws. (AP Photo)
(AP / July 8, 2010)
CITY (AP) — Striking banana plantation workers and police clashed in western Panama on Thursday, leaving one man dead and 100 people hurt.
Eighteen of the injured in Bocas del Toro province, on the border with Costa Rica, were in critical condition, the national emergency agency said in a statement.
The National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights, a non-governmental labor umbrella group, identified the dead man as banana union leader Antonio Smith.
Striking banana plantation workers began protesting last week against a new law that critics say weakens unions.
More:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-lt-panama-banana-protest,0,7671693.story