AP PHOTOS: Panama protests have lasted 45 days and counting
Anti-government protesters clash with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
ARIMAE, Panama (AP) — Protests have persisted in parts of Panama for a month and a half. They’ve covered a range of issues including the changes to social security and opposition to a security agreement giving U.S. soldiers and contractors access to some facilities in Panama.
Authorities and protesters were injured Thursday in eastern Panama when border police tried to open a highway blocked in an Indigenous community.
President José Raúl Mulino has said he will not reverse the social security changes, nor will he allow protesters to obstruct roads.
Anti-government protesters block a highway in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025, during a demonstration against a pension reform law and a security agreement with the United States involving the Panama Canal.(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government protesters block a highway in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025, during a demonstration against a pension reform law and a security agreement with the United States involving the Panama Canal.(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators clash with police during protests against President Jose Raul Mulino’s government in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators clash with police during protests against President Jose Raul Mulino’s government in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An anti-government protester hurls a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An anti-government protester hurls a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators clash with police during protests against President Jose Raul Mulino’s government in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators clash with police during protests against President Jose Raul Mulino’s government in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Tear gas enugulf anti-government protesters as they clash with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Tear gas enugulf anti-government protesters as they clash with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Men carry a fellow demonstrator injured during clashes with police at a protest against recent actions by President Jose Raul Mulino, including a pension reform law and a security agreement with the United States involving the Panama Canal, in Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Men carry a fellow demonstrator injured during clashes with police at a protest against recent actions by President Jose Raul Mulino, including a pension reform law and a security agreement with the United States involving the Panama Canal, in Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An anti-government protester hurls back a tear gas canister during clashes with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An anti-government protester hurls back a tear gas canister during clashes with police at the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An anti-government protester shows pellet wounds sustained during clashes with police in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An anti-government protester shows pellet wounds sustained during clashes with police in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Residents try to extinguish a hut that caught fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and police in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Residents try to extinguish a hut that caught fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and police in the Indigenous Embera community of Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators block the Pan-American Highway to protest a pension reform law in Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators block the Pan-American Highway to protest a pension reform law in Arimae, Panama, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Indigenous women join other anti-government demonstrators blocking the Pan-American Highway in Akua Yala, Panama, to protest against a law overhauling social security and against the Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Indigenous women join other anti-government demonstrators blocking the Pan-American Highway in Akua Yala, Panama, to protest against a law overhauling social security and against the Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Antigovernment demonstrators march to protest a reform to the social security system in Panama City, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Antigovernment demonstrators march to protest a reform to the social security system in Panama City, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People protest the Panamanian government’s decision to sign an agreement with the United States that the demonstrators deem at odds with their sovereignty, in Panama City, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People protest the Panamanian government’s decision to sign an agreement with the United States that the demonstrators deem at odds with their sovereignty, in Panama City, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People protest the Panamanian government’s decision to sign an agreement with the United States that the demonstrators deem at odds with their sovereignty, in Panama City, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
People protest the Panamanian government’s decision to sign an agreement with the United States that the demonstrators deem at odds with their sovereignty, in Panama City, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
A woman protests the Panamanian government’s decision to sign an agreement with the United States that demonstrators deem at odds with their sovereignty, in Panama City, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
A woman protests the Panamanian government’s decision to sign an agreement with the United States that demonstrators deem at odds with their sovereignty, in Panama City, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
Anti-government demonstrators march to protest a reform to the social security system in Panama City’s Old Town, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators march to protest a reform to the social security system in Panama City’s Old Town, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A police officer guards a highway during anti-government demonstrations against the recently signed Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal and a law that overhauls the social security agency, in Santiago, Panama, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A police officer guards a highway during anti-government demonstrations against the recently signed Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal and a law that overhauls the social security agency, in Santiago, Panama, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama’s Caribbean coast to protest against a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal and to protest against Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama’s Caribbean coast to protest against a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal and to protest against Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama’s Caribbean coast to protest a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal and against Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama’s Caribbean coast to protest a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal and against Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Vehicles back up on the Pan-American Highway, blocked by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Vehicles back up on the Pan-American Highway, blocked by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators block a highway to protest the recently signed Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal and a law that overhauls the social security agency, in Santiago, Panama, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators block a highway to protest the recently signed Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal and a law that overhauls the social security agency, in Santiago, Panama, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police fire tear gas to break up a blockade on the Pan-American Highway set up by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police fire tear gas to break up a blockade on the Pan-American Highway set up by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police stand on the Pan-American Highway after clearing a blockaid by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police stand on the Pan-American Highway after clearing a blockaid by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police clear the Pan-American Highway, which had been blocked by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police clear the Pan-American Highway, which had been blocked by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators block a road to protest against social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Anti-government demonstrators block a road to protest against social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police clear trees felled by anti-government demonstrators to block the Pan-American Highway during a protest against changes to the security system, in Piriatí, Panama, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Police clear trees felled by anti-government demonstrators to block the Pan-American Highway during a protest against changes to the security system, in Piriatí, Panama, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A driver leans on his vehicle as traffic backs up on the Pan-American Highway, blocked by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A driver leans on his vehicle as traffic backs up on the Pan-American Highway, blocked by anti-government protesters opposing social security reforms and a Panama-U.S. memorandum concerning the Panama Canal, in El Piro, Panama, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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