Security Minister Claims Cell Phone Towers Were Sabotaged

Public Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino, recognized this Saturday, Feb. 4, that in areas where indigenous Ngäbe-Bugle staged protests in opposition to the elimination of Article 5 of Bill 415 which establishes the regulation of mining in the region, "there is no communication". The loss of communication through mobile phones, as of yesterday, Friday, Feb. 3, affecting the areas from the community of Vigui on the boundary between the provinces of Chiriqui and Veraguas, to the village of Horconcitos, in the district of San Lorenzo. "We understand that has been caused by sabotage by some (communications) towers," said Mulino, although the telephone companies confirmed yesterday that communications via mobile phones had been suspended by order of the competent authority (government).

With regard to negotiations with the Indians, Minister Mulino said, "the government does not negotiate with kidnappers," while thanking the bishop of David, Jose Luis Lacunza, by "trying to talk sense to the (Indian) leaders." Mulino's statement is in line with what was said earlier today by the President, who asked for the people who have been kidnapped or held against their will by the indigenous protests to be released, and said the authorities from Costa Rica and Argentina have complained and asked for the citizens of their countries to be rescued, because they have been wrongfully withheld. "As the government we have to have all strategies ready for whatever the scenario," said Mulino, while accompanying president Ricardo Martinelli at the airport Marco A Gelabert, in Albrook, to receive shipments of food from Chiriqui.

PUBLIC AWARENESS - Mulino made a call to the citizens, asking them to not take advantage of the situation, because he has been told that at the Domestic Terminal at the Tocumen International Airport there are people who are upset, because some people are taking advantage of the free flights being coordinated by the Government for vacation travel to Chiriqui, or to come for a ride to the capital city. "The civic responsibility is important. We are sending [Naval Service personnel] to coordinate with the authorities from the Tocumen airport, because people want to use the David airlift to go on vacation, and it's not for that," said Mulino.

In his statements the Minister told the local media said that in Veraguas they have evacuated almost all of the people who were in the conflict zones, except those who are on two Tica buses, in the area near Vigui. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: That's hilarious. Last night there was a recording on the Movistar system explaining how they had been ordered to cut cellular phone service by the government. And now Mulino says service was cut due to sabotage. And now the recorded announcement is no longer on the Movistar system. Yup, smells like sabotage to me - pure and simple. (chortle)