Ex-president denies collaboration with FARC and drug traffickers

Former Panama President Martin Torrijos (2004-2009) has denied "absolutely" that he or his government have had any collaboration or agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), says news agency ACAN-EFE.

The Torrijos reaction comes after La Prensa revealed Sunday, that his government and that of Mireya Moscoso had secret talks with the FARC to avoid clashes in the province of Darien and would remain "neutral",. The information was discovered in more than 33 documents that remained in the computer hard drive of Raul Reyes, former number 2 in FARC

After the death of Reyes, Colombia’s military seized his personal computer which is now in the hands of Colombian authorities. Says La Prensa

Torrijos said that "both the Governments of Panama and Colombia and the former president Alvaro Uribe, had constant and assiduous cooperation on security and fighting organized crime, on our common border and all other areas where concerted action was required, according to " EFE quoting a statement by the former president.

Torrijos said that his government " captured more drugs than all of Central America and the Caribbean together", which, in his opinion, "is clear proof" of his Government’s commitment and effectiveness in that area

Last Friday, the president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, said publicly that previous governments, had an "amicable settlement" with drug traffickers and guerrillas, and that situation is over.