national

FARC demands that prisoners be released

The Colombian group said that Panamanian residents are not in danger if their demand is met.

Víctor Arosemena/LA PRENSA

at arms:Security has been increased in the Darién village of Jaqué.989187

Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) is demanding that the Panamanian government release six of its members who were detained after a gun fight with police Friday.

An emissary for the group said that FARC has no intention of causing problems for local residents, but that it is demanding that the prisoners be released.

Meanwhile, residents of Jaqué, in the Darién, are fearful that police will not be able to protect them from the organization, which is heavily armed and has been battling the Colombian government for decades.

"We are afraid to go out and fish," said one resident who asked not to be named. " We are sure that [FARC] is going to retaliate."

Another resident said that he does not think the police have the resources to combat FARC.

"We have not seen the Panamanian police patrol our shores for a long time," he said.

Residents also noted that police reinforcements sent to the area have not been equipped with any patrol boats.

Policía Nacional Deputy Commissioner Jaime Ruíz would only say that "everything is under control and surveillance has been increased in the area."

Friday's incident took place after a boat was seen drifting near Puerto Piña. Local police borrowed a boat from Hotel Tropics Resort de Puerto Piña to investigate. They were accompanied by hotel security personnel and border agents.

When they approached the vessel, the six people on board requested gasoline. But the police replied that they would be towed to Jaqué for an inspection.

Without warning, a woman on board the vessel, who was in a cargo hold, emerged with an AK-47 and started shooting, wounding a police officer.

The Panamanian authorities returned fire, wounding three people. The other three people, as well as those who were wounded, were taken into custody.

The government has identified them as FARC members.

Jaqué residents said it is not uncommon to see FARC personnel in the area, and, in fact, they are a much more common sight than police patrols.

While no other confrontations have been reported since Friday's incident, FARC's message is clear that more violence is possible.

Friday's situation almost turned out much worse when a group of medical students and their teacher approached the area for a school-related trip shortly after the incident. The group, unaware of the events earlier in the day, were greeted with warning shots and orders to direct their vessel directly to the shore.

Mignonio Murillo, a Universidad de Panama professor and the group's leader, condemned the handling of the situation by police, saying that the group was unnecessarily put at risk.

He added that police later apologized for their actions.