Panama: Threat from Colombian Rebels Bogus

PANAMA CITY – The chief of the Panama police described as fake the communiqué attributed to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, threatening the country’s authorities for arresting six rebels in Panamanian waters.

“It has been confirmed that this is not a communiqué from the FARC.What is important is that the investigation continue,” Rolando Mirones said of the message emailed to Panamanian media outlets.

Who sent the e-mail and why have yet to be determined, he said.

Mirones was referring to the message sent to media outlets calling upon the Panamanian government to turn over “safe and sound” six guerrillas who were captured last weekend in Panama’s territorial waters (NT, March 7).

Bearing the letterhead of the FARC, the e-mail threatened “warlike” reprisals if authorities did not release the rebels.

The six Colombians under arrest, three suffering bullet wounds from the shootout that preceded their capture, are confined in a high-security jail and face charges of criminal association, bearing firearms and menacing public safety.

Two of them have already confessed their connections with the FARC.