Panama Will Not
Institute Curfew
Panamanian President
Martin Torrijos said on
Wednesday he would not
extend the curfew on
Colon to the rest of the
country, despite survey
indications that
Panamanians favor such a
measure.
The Colon curfew was
established after the
murder of the Panamanian
Chamber of Commerce vice
president, and a TV
street poll showed the
majority favor similar
curfews, at least in the
more dangerous
neighborhoods.
However, Torrijos said
this would leave the
streets in the hands of
criminals and exhorted
the "good guys" in the
Panamanian population
not to tolerate
criminals, but to
denounce them to the
police.
The president said that
an integral national
security plan is under
study and that after the
carnivals are over next
week, he will convoke a
forum with all sectors
to discuss and agree on
anti-crime measures.
He also stressed the
connection between drug
traffic and the
proliferation of
homicides and other
crimes in Panama, but
pointed out that Panama
has confiscated more
drugs than any other
country in Central
America. |
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