Panama is ablaze after 16 days of general strike against inflation and corruption. Militants expropriated a police car in Santiago de Veraguas before setting it on fire.
Across the Central American nation, protesters blocked roads and stopped trucks from delivering food, a pressure tactic that has been increasingly used since protests broke out two weeks ago as inflation accelerated to 5.2% in the year through June.
Teachers were the first group to demonstrate at the start of July but they have since been joined by other groups, including construction workers, students and members of Indigenous groups.
Demonstrators have opposed the Cortizo regime’s austerity measures, including a 10 percent reduction of the state’s payroll, which will lead to layoffs and more hunger.
