Security Minister ignores calls for resignation

Panama’s  Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino, will not respond to calls for his resignation after the second set of deaths on his watch involving police.

He said on Monday, January 24, morning that he did not plan to resign as called for by the opposition because of the fire that occurred in the Juvenile Detention Center in Tocumen that has led to the deaths of five inmates and two still in dangerous condition.

"I would resign if I were responsible for the fire … I have nothing to do with it, that's the everyday actions of people, "said the minister.

He repeated a previous statement  that  National Police agents will withdraw from Panamanian prisons.

Previous calls for his resignation were made after the shooting deaths by police, of four strikers in Bocas Del Toro in July 2010. Hundreds of workers were injured, including permanent blinding.