The Ombudsman’s Office will initiate an investigation to determine whether or not there was excessive use of force by the National Police during the protests on Thursday, July 7 at the University of Panama (UP).
The Ombudsman, Eduardo Leblanc González, said that he has held talks with the student ombudsman and that possibly this Friday he will meet with the university official.
The ombudsman makes the inquiries after a video that circulates where two students inside the Casa de Méndez Pereira, cover themselves behind a pilaster, before the repression with a kind of projectile that detonates near them.
Leblanc said that it is a kind of paintball gun that is used to shoot irritating gases, so he is conducting the investigations to determine if there was an excessive use of force.
The Ombudsman also stated that he was concerned about the loss of classes by students as a result of the protests carried out by educators nationwide.
“We at the Ombudsman’s Office are very concerned about the lack of class for all children and adolescents after 2 years of virtual classes,” Leblanc stressed.
The ombudsman called on the parties in conflict to resume dialogue and approach the conversation table because it is the primary interest that all students receive their classes.