On November 1, 2023, Tomás Milton Cedeño García, 42 years old, Indigenous from the Ngäbe Buglé community, was killed during a protest where he was run over by a vehicle in the middle of a road blockade. The protest was against the decision by the Panamanian government renewing the copper exploration concession at the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America held by Minera Panama, a subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum Minerals.

Since the beginning of the protests in October 2023 arising from the Panamanian government renewing the copper exploration concession at the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America held by Minera Panama, a subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum Minerals., at least 30 people have been arrested, and several people have been injured, including journalist and activist Aubrey Baxter who lost an eye due to excessive use of force by the police. On 1 November 2023, Diógenes Sánchez, a member of the Panama Teacher's Association (Asociación de Profesores de Panamá (Asoprof)), was arrested by police following his active participation in the protests. Abdiel Díaz and Iván Rodríguez were shot and killed on 7 November.