Panama: Unions denounce persecution after raiding their home

Published at: 21/04/2026 09:43 AM

The general secretary of the National Confederation of Independent Trade Union Unity (CONUSI), Marco Andrade, publicly denounced a series of abuses against workers' groups following a search carried out on his home by the Office of the Office of the Office against Organized Crime.

During a press conference at the organization's headquarters, the union leader explained that the judicial proceedings took place the day before on charges that he described as totally false, Telesur said.

Andrade argued that this action is not an isolated event, but is part of a systematic policy of persecution directed against union leaders in Panama. According to the CONUSI representative, the use of the specialized prosecutor's office seeks to intimidate organizations that maintain a critical position in the face of government management, using the judicial apparatus to silence social discontent.

The leader directly linked these acts of pressure to his fierce opposition to public policies promoted by the administration of President José Raúl Mulino. For Andrade, the search of his home represents a violation of his personal integrity and an attempt to dismantle the resistance of labor movements that question the economic and social measures of the current Executive.

The union leader reaffirmed CONUSI's commitment to continue the fight for workers' rights despite what he considers to be a campaign of judicial intimidation.

Andrade called on national and international organizations to remain vigilant in the face of what he described as a setback in democratic guarantees and a frontal attack on freedom of trade union association in the country.

Mazo News Team