Representatives of the Petaquilla Gold Mine rejected the arguments made by farmers and environmentalists about alleged pollution in the Coclesito river, and to prove it they bathed in the river, and they even drank the water directly from the river. Carlos Salazar, in the presence of the media, bathed in the river together with his son and public relations representative Fernando Rodriguez. "They accuse Petaquilla of having polluted the rivers, mainly the Coclesito, without scientific evidence - they alarm the people and then later interview them," said Salazar. He said the mining company has not used seven tons of cyanide, nor are they destroying water sources in the region, as the environmentalists accuse. He explained that in the operational phase they have taken advantage of the high levels of rainfall, which have increased the water levels in the holding tanks, and to say that the water was spilled is not true.

He also argued that theoretically they consume 1,080 cubic meters of water per day because the holding tanks have a pumping capacity of 45 cubic meters per hour, but because the rainwater has filled the holding tanks, they do not need to use the full 45 cubic meters per hour, or the 1,080 per day.

Of every 100 applications for exploration, practice shows that only two actually come mines, so in Panama at best will have just six or seven mines, occupying an area of about 3,500 to 4,000 hectares, equal to 40 square kilometers, said Salazar.

It was a challenge without justification. Environmentalist Raisa Bainfield said there is no evidence Salazar was drinking water from the affected rivers. "Bathing and drinking water is a challenge that has no legal basis. What will determine whether the river is contaminated or not will be a commission of national experts who are investigating the mine, as well as international experts because the government is biased on this issue," said Banfield, while supporting the theory that the mine is detrimental to the community. (El Siglo)   

The National Police have requested a budget of at least $260 million dollars to combat crime. The Director of the National Police, Gustavo Perez, justified the request by saying the budget seeks to expand the program of the handheld electronic verifier equipment known as the "Pele Police." Perez said that thanks to the "Pele Police" their officers used the equipment to check the backgrounds of 600,000 people, and 4,600 fugitives were captured. (TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: OK, 4,600 fugitives caught for 600,000 checks equals a .76% hit rate. And of course there's going to be a rate of diminishing returns as eventually most of those people who have outstanding wants and warrants with the legal and justice system are caught and hauled in. So, over time this percentage will probably decrease.   

Uncertainty continues for tomorrow. The companies who own the Northern and Southern Corridors are in negotiations to prevent workers from walking out on strike tomorrow. Oscar Delgado, the Director of Business Development for PYCSA Panama, reported that over the weekend they are holding meetings with workers representatives, in order to keep the strike from happening. At the time of this writing the meetings are still being held, and according to Delgado they are "going well" although no agreement has yet been reached between the parties.

Delgado declined to say what they would do in case they are unable to reach an agreement before 6:00 am Monday morning, and they say they will do whatever is necessary to prevent an abnormal situation tomorrow on both Corridors. The workers are asking to have their situation defined in case the two highways are purchased by the government. They are afraid they will lose their jobs, or that their pay or working conditions will worsen. (Panama America)   

Two young men were killed early Saturday morning by a man, who has net yet been either identified or captured, who opened fire inside a nightclub on Calle Uruguay in Bella Vista in the capital city. Preliminary investigations indicate the murderer entered the nightclub and, without a word, open fire on a group of people. Alberto Edwin Griffin, age 25, died instantly when he was shot 13 times. Meanwhile, Juan Manuel Navarro, 18 years old, who was shot in the back, died after being transferred to St. Thomas hospital. The two victims didn't know one another.

The shooting caused the rest of the people who were at the club to flee in terror. The murderer walked out of the club and climbed into a black pickup truck that was parked near the site, and escaped without problems. Sources said yesterday that prosecutors are reviewing video tapes from security cameras outside the place to try to identify the murderer. The First Superior Prosecutor, Geomar Jones, is conducting the investigation, while Criminology experts found 20 shell casings inside and outside of the room. It is believed this was a case of revenge against Griffin. (La Prensa)   

Just like a ball that bounces and extends, are the suspicions surrounding confessed murderer William Dathan Holbert, aka "Wild Bill" about his responsibility for other crimes. Coupled with the judicial process following him in Panama, now the first formal criminal complaint has been filed against "Wild Bill" in Costa Rica, a country whose authorities had never before confirmed the presence of the murderer. The complaint was filed before the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime, according to a report published on the Panama Guide website. A possible sixth victim of 'Wild Bill' could be American attorney Jeffrey A. Kline, who transferred $107,040 dollars from the United States to a bank in Costa Rica. Kline, a native of Wisconsin, was a fugitive from justice in the United States for evading child support payments, and distribution of marital property.

US legal authorities and Kline's siblings themselves thought Kline was hiding in Costa Rica as a fugitive. Now, with many indications, authorities await DNA comparisons of one of Kline's brothers with the remains of a previously unidentified body discovered in November 2007 under a slab of cement below a house occupied by 'Wild Bill' with Laura Michelle Reese in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. According to Panama Guide, there are documents that suggest a friendly relationship between Kline, 'Wild Bill' and his wife, Laura Michelle Reese.

Kline practiced law in Illinois and Wisconsin. The courts of both states disbarred him for 'fiscal misconduct.' In August 2007, a researcher, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in San José, Costa Rica, confirmed suspicions: Kline lived in this country, but he was never found. (La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: Thanks to Luis Batista and Alexis Charris P., reporters from La Estrella, for picking this up. Hopefully some day the press in Costa Rica might wake up to what's happening in their backyard. Literally...