Panama Assesses
Stations' Sites
PANAMA - The assessment of possible sites
for new air and sea stations proposed by the
Panamanian government to fight
drug-trafficking appears among the
priorities of the country's security bodies
on Wednesday.
According to the Ministry of Government and
Justice, the Minister of National Security
Jose Raul Mulino is carrying out a visit to
different regions of the nation to assess
likely sites for the bases.
The official already visited places as Piña
and Coiba Island (both in the Pacific
Ocean), which are considered among the
probable sites.
The first of the 11 stations planned by the
government and located in Chapera Island,
Las Perlas archipielago, started operating
in early December.
The government will also operate stations in
Piña, Punta Coco, Mensabe, Coiba and
Quebrada de Piedra in the Pacific Ocean and
Chiriqui Grande, Colon Island, Sherman, El
Porvenir and Obaldia Harbor in the Atlantic
Ocean.
This projects has met the rejection of
unions and students organizations, which
have warned that it could lead to a US
military presence in the country.
Mulino ruled out that possibility and
ratified that the stations will be operated
by staff of the security bodies of Panama.
However, the US Ambassador in Panama Barbara
Stephenson revealed in 2009 that three US
security bodies will train the Panamanian
staff apart from offering logistic support
to the activity.
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