On Saturday, another person was killed in Panama as police officers tried to remove barriers set up by striking banana workers. The death comes two days after another worker was killed on Thursday during a protest. The workers are protesting a new law which allows employers to suspend striking workers and hire replacements. Protesters took four police officers hostage on Thursday, and after one escaped the other three were let go. Video of Saturday's protest shows police shooting tear gas and guns while trying to remove barriers. Workers at the Panama Canal extension project also stopped work on Saturday. Workers on the project were fired and arrested last week after refusing to come back to work after a strike.
See "Second person killed in Panama labor clashes", Sean Mattson, Reuters, July 11, 2010