bythe El Reportero’s news services
Roberto Eisenmann
In the Guatemalan capital, the quake lasted just one minute, generating panic among the population. Victims or material damages have not yet been reported.
The first radio reports from the Guatemalan capital said that the tremor registered an intensity of 7.5 degrees Richter, and the Geological Service located the epicenter in front of the coasts of Champerico, department of Retalhuleu, 105.6 miles southwest of this capital.
The authorities transmitted a tsunami alert immediately for the whole Guatemalan sea shore, and the radio reported the quake was felt in Mexico.
In Mexico, a preliminary intensity of 7.3 Richter degrees was felt at the Federal District, capital of Mexico. No damages have been reported up to this moment.
The seismologic service of Mexico located the epicentre at 43.4 miles south of Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexican state of Chiapas.
Panamanians denounce militarization
Deployment of miltary forces during the national celebrations and repression by coastguards in Colon showed Panama’’s militarization, something unconstitutional, national figures denounced today.
Businessman Roberto Eisenmann (Senafront) said a new army was created in the country that violates the Constitution and is against the national public opinion.
Former leader of the Lawyer’s Crusade Aurelio Barria called indignant how they are trying to turn the National Police (PN) into a military force with the pretext of fighting drug trafficking.
Those maneuvers are a violation of the Constitution, which bans the existence of an army in Panama.
Panamanian Ex-Attorney General Ana Matilde 5Gómez said it was worrying what is happening with the PN, because the Constitution establishes a security institution, not an army.
Ex-attorney of the Supreme Court of Justice Esmeralda de Tritino insisted that the miliatry deployment in the celebration parades and their behavior in the protests in Colon are examples of the PN militarization.
As an answer to such statements, PN Director Julio Molto said that institution is turning professional. Belsio González, director of the Senan, did not make any statement and Frank Abrego, director of Senafront, did not answer the journalists’ calls.
