Panama Assesses Stations' Sites

(insidecostarica.com) 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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Original Source: http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/january/21/centam-10012102.htm
Date Retrieved: January 21, 2010