Panamanian union leader seeks asylum at Bolivian embassy

PANAMA CITY: top union leader involved in protests against Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino scaled the fence of the Bolivian embassy to seek asylum Wednesday, authorities said, following the arrest of a colleague.The powerful Suntracs construction union is fighting the Panamanian government on several fronts, including pension reform.Saul Mendez's asylum plea came after authorities recently detained another union leader, Jaime Caballero, on suspicion of money laundering.According to Panama's foreign ministry, "in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Mr Mendez climbed over the fence of the diplomatic mission, knocked on the door, and with a note in hand requested political asylum."The embassy informed Panama that the request would be considered by Bolivia's national refugee council, the ministry said in a statement.Following Mendez's asylum plea, prosecutors announced it had issued an arrest warrant against "Panamanian citizens" as part of a probe into Suntracs for suspected aggravated fraud, money laundering and illicit association.The statement did not mention any names, but local media reported the warrants targeted Mendez and former union leader Genaro Lopez.

Masked police also raided several Suntracs offices, including its headquarters in Panama City.Mulino has branded the left-wing union "a mafia."The organization often leads protests against his right-wing government focused on issues ranging from social security reforms, an agreement allowing US troops to deploy to bases along the Panama Canal, and moves to reopen a contested copper mine.Suntracs is one of the organizers of an indefinite strike by construction workers launched almost a month ago.