From Afroresistance, Espacio de Encuentro de Mujeres, Isadoras, Las Exageradas de Azuero, FundaGénero, and Voces de Mujeres Afrodescendientes de Panamá, we raise our voices to strongly denounce the excessive and repressive violence exercised by the National Police of Panama—an institution that, under the motto "God and Homeland," has acted against the very principles it claims to uphold.
Instead of protecting citizens and ensuring the exercise of fundamental rights, we have witnessed security forces violently attacking students from the University of Panama, who are exercising their legitimate right to protest and express their rejection of President Mulino’s weak response to the absurd demands and claims made by the United States.
The students, organized in collectives such as Juventudes Revolucionarias, have taken to the streets with courage and patriotism to demand decisive action in defense of our national sovereignty. However, instead of being heard, they have been met with beatings, tear gas, and police harassment.
This repression is not only an attack on freedom of expression and assembly but also a blatant criminalization of the right to protest.
Violence Against Women: A Tool of Control and Repression
One of the most alarming aspects of this repression is the violence inflicted on a female student by a police officer. These actions are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic pattern of patriarchal violence aimed at silencing and intimidating women who dare to speak out against injustice.
Security institutions, far from guaranteeing peace, have become instruments of oppression that reinforce and perpetuate patriarchal structures. Violence against women in protest contexts, carried out by the National Police, is a recurring issue. It is not only a violation of their human rights but also a strategy to demobilize and dismantle social movements. As women's and feminist organizations, we denounce this patriarchal violence and demand thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible for these acts.
It is concerning and contradictory that the Panamanian State—through the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches—has signed documents in recent months, such as the Declaration of Chapultepec and the Declaration of Salta II, which promote freedom of expression and access to information. However, in practice, actions are being taken that undermine these rights, particularly against those protesting at the University.
It is unacceptable that, under the guise of defending democracy, mechanisms such as police harassment, the criminalization of protest, and repression are used to silence the critical voices of Panama’s social movement. This double standard not only weakens the credibility of institutions but also reveals a clear regression in the commitment to fundamental rights that they supposedly vow to protect.
If the government truly wants to uphold democracy, it is urgent that actions align with rhetoric and that freedom of expression is fully guaranteed for all, without exceptions or reprisals. However, we are well aware of who is steering this ship and the dark history that follows.
Solidarity with the Students of the University of Panama
We stand in full solidarity with the student organizations of the University of Panama, particularly the University Reform Student Association, who have shown a deep commitment to defending national sovereignty and the interests of the Panamanian people. Their struggle is our struggle, and their bravery serves as an inspiration to all who believe in a free, sovereign, and just Panama.
We demand that the Mulino government immediately halt the repression and harassment against the University of Panama and its student community. We call for respect for the right to peaceful protest and urgent concrete measures to defend our sovereignty against foreign interests.
We also demand a thorough investigation and accountability for the acts of police violence, particularly those committed against our fellow student from the Faculty of Economics. The government must ensure the physical and emotional well-being of all individuals exercising their right to protest.
We reaffirm our solidarity with the student community and all oppressed sectors of our society. We will not remain silent in the face of injustice. We denounce police violence in Panama, used as a tool of control and repression.
Panama, January 31, 2025.
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