Alleged Colombian Rebels
Enter Panamanian
Territory
PANAMA - A newspaper in
Panama has reported that
residents in the border
region with Colombia
were forced to flee
their homes after a
group of men believed to
be rebels entered their
village stealing food
and drink.
The incident in the
province of Darien was
reported by Panamanian
local daily "La Prensa."
The report said, "The
inhabitants were afraid
and they began to leave
their houses, because on
Saturday a group of six
men dressed as peasants
entered the community,
who were recognized as
irregular Colombians."
"The men went inside a
house, drank something,
ate and then they left,
threatening to come back
at night, which they
did," La Prensa quoted
Elpidio Rosales, a local
resident, as saying.
Although there was no
violence, the residents
decided to leave amid
fears of an attack by a
Colombian armed group.
According to Rosales, at
least one of the men had
entered the town of Bajo
Chiquito in early August
and plundered a store
for food.
Police spokesman Eduardo
Lim Yueng said he had
not received any reports
about the incidents in
Bajo Chiquito and
Darien, but promised an
investigation.
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