Chapter 682: Chapter 255: Scalding

```

Time swiftly passed, and the Austrian army soon evacuated the Panama area, transferring control not to the Colombian Government but to the Panama local government.

To be precise, it was the Panama Independence Organization, as the original local government of Panama had long been replaced, and the Independence Organization was now in power.

The Colombian Government's army was stopped halfway by the local militia, who refused to let them enter.

Both sides were at a standoff, and the Panama Independence Organization had not yet declared independence, citing poor military discipline as the reason for refusing the government troops' entry.

Although Colombia was not a United States-style federation, the local governments still held considerable power, and there was precedent for refusing entry to government troops.

Fully aware that the Panama area was on the brink of independence, President Rafael Núñez could only resort to political measures before independence commenced.