The demonstrations, which have lasted more than 70 days, have been firmly repressed by the Mulino government, which has affirmed that it will not repeal the social security law that has caused so much controversy.

Protests, rapprochement with Washington, and a pro-business government have marked the first year of Mulino’s neoliberal government.

The US Secretaries of State and Homeland Security arrived in Panama to attend a regional meeting on migration cooperation in the hemisphere. Those protesting the visit highlighted that US imperialism is the root cause for migration in the region

According to official data, 516 Panamanians soldiers and civilians were killed during the US invasion, but human rights groups say the real number is much higher, between 1,000 and 3,000