Panama enters third week of protests: All you need to know

Panama has entered their third week of protests, gaining momentum as unions, students, and social groups unite to voice demands against the Mulino government and US influence. (Image: AP)

The youth and workers are protesting against an augmented US military presence in the country and the deteriorating conditions of the workers. (Image: AP)

Panamanians are expressing their discontent over the potential re-opening of an open-pit mine by the administration. These protests also come amidst attempts made by the US to gain control of the Panama Canal and establish new military bases in the country. (Image: AP)

Police clear a highway in Santiago, Panama, where anti-government protesters had blocked the road in opposition to a new Panama-US memorandum on the Panama Canal and a controversial law reforming the social security agency. (Image: AP)

Amid the fight for national sovereignty, various unions have joined in the protests to reject the law reforming the Central Security Fund (CSS) a state-level institution overlooking pensions and healthcare. (Image: AP)

Nationwide mobilisations and strikes have escalated since April 23, when teachers’ unions, many linked to the party United People’s Alliance for Life, launched a national strike. The movement gained further momentum on April 28, as the National Union of Construction and Related Workers (SUNTRACS) joined in. (Image: AP)