16 arrests, 9 injured in road closure clashes

At least 16 people were arrested and another nine were injured in clashes with riot police on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro province.

Some 150 people −who were evicted from private land− carried out intermittent closures on the La Torre bridge, in Changuinola. The closures continued Wednesday.

 The eviction procedure was carried out on Tuesday morning, in compliance with an order issued by the justice of the peace of the community of El Empalme.

According to official reports, among the injured are seven agents of the National Police. They were injured by blunt objects, stones, and bottles, while other colleagues were affected by “heat stroke”, reported the entity.

In the midst of the riots, the Police also detailed that they seized several homemade incendiary bombs, and bladed weapons, among other evidence.

The Police and the Ombudsman’s Office, which has intervened in the situation, have stated that there have been no deaths due to the protests.