Panama Security Forces

I have a high respect for our men and women in uniform.  They work day in and day out protecting us, specially when we go to bed and close our eyes.  On a 24/7 basis, somebody from the Panama Police is guarding the walls of the nation, and while doing so, risking their lives.

The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of this small country located in the narrow Isthmus of Central America. Panama is the second country in Latin America (the other one is Costa Rica) to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces.  This came as a result of a U.S. invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship  which ruled the country from 1968 to 1989.

Panama maintains forces, consisting of armed Police and Security forces, and small air and maritime forces. They are tasked with law enforcement, and can perform limited military actions. Panama can create a temporary military force to counter any attack.

Below are the different branches of the Panamanian Security Forces known as the Panama National Police:

• Policía Nacional (National Police)
• Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (National Borders Service)
• Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (National Aeronaval Service)
• Servico de Protección Institucional (Institutional Protection Service)

The National Borders Services (SENAFRONT) have been trained and equipped to protect our borders, specially the border with Colombia which has been a scenario of continued conflicts with Colombian drug dealers and guerrilla units known as FARC.  Speed boats, helicopters and special radars have been acquired by this unit to interrupt the increasing drug traffic from South America to Europe and the United States.

In November 2008, the Servicio Aéreo Nacional (National Air Service) merged with its maritime counterpart, the Servicio Maritimo Nacional (National Maritime Service) to become the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (National Aeronaval Service), also the creation of the new Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (National Borders Service) as an independent force from the National Police.

Below are several pictures of units from SENAFRONT on a large speedboat during a recent exhibition of airplanes, helicopters, executive jets, and boats at the former Howard Air Force Base.  They had their faces painted green and were carrying heavy military equipment.  They looked intimidating to me, but kids were happy to take pictures with them.  I kept a safe distance…just in case—tongue-in-cheek.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a unit of SENAFRONT on top of a large speedboat during a recent exhibition of planes, helicopters and boats organized by the Panama government at former Howard Air Force Base. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

As you can see, it was a beautiful sunny day with pristine white cotton looking clouds overhead. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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In Search of the Elusive Jesus Christ of San Miguelito

When I was studying at IPA (Instituto Pan-Americano) during 1962-1965, the major TV stations in Panama would broadcast the Sunday mass from the Church of Cristo Redentor on top of one of the many hills of San Miguelito.  I remember that nearby, there was an imposing metal statue of Jesus with his arms extended as if to embrace the world.  I would say, it closely resembles the gigantic statue of el Cristo Redentor del Corcovado of Río de Janeiro in Brazil.

After several years, the TV broadcasts were made from other modern locations of Panama City, and the iconic statue lost its charm and faded into oblivion.  No body spoke, or even remembered, that this structure existed in San Miguelito, specially the young generations of Panamanians.

On Sunday, December 13, 2009, my wife and I decided to find the whereabouts of this forgotten statue of San Miguelito.  I could hardly remember where it was located, so I had to depend on my wife’s memory.  She was right on the dot, and in less than 15 minutes, we were parking our car in front of the Iglesia de Cristo Redentor in San Miguelito.  Once there, we asked a person there, where we could find the statue.  He looked worried, and said, “If I were you, I would not go there.  It’s not a safe place.  Many persons have been mugged in this insecure place, and others have been killed.”  “Please stay away from this place, it is considered una ‘zona roja’” (red zone, meaning a extremely dangerous place).

We followed his advice.  While we approached the area from a respectable distance, a spokesman of the church whose name is Absalom, approached us and said he would accompany us to the safest place to view the statue.  At approximately 200 feet away from a hill, infested with weeds, we saw the figure of Jesus Christ with his arms extended.  Only he was looking in the opposite direction.  I could only see his back.

Absalom explained that the area had been taken by local gangs and drug dealers.  Even the  wide walls of the church were painted with graffiti, representing the territorial claims of the gangs.   Nobody dared to climb the hill to enjoy the view or visit the statue.  Jesus was there, alone, ostracized by crime and drugs.  We felt very sad of this situation.  Absalom noticed our  sorrow and gave us a small sermon about the absence of God in modern societies.

He said, the origin of violence, drugs, hatred, wars, gangs, and other social evils; originated by the vacuum of spiritual beliefs  by the people.  They have been hypnotized by the glare of consumerism.  Greed was the energy propelling societies around the world.  Family values have been forgotten.  Father and mother have been displaced by grandfathers and grandmothers, and by local gangs.  This was the new family of the XXIst century.  The nuclear family of the Industrial Revolution has been crushed by new institutions created by capitalism with a barbarian face.  In Spanish it’s called, “capitalismo salvaje.”

After listening to Absalom’s words of widsom for about half an hour, we prayed together holding hands.  Then we departed homewards.  Before leaving, I aventured taking a couple of photographs of the distant statue using my camera’s zoom feature.  That was the best I could do, considering the aforementioned unfavorable circumstances.  Here we go.

Photograph of the Cristo Redentor de San Miguelito lost in the middle of a vacant park, filled with tall grass and weeds. He could hardly hardly be seen. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

A distant picture of the Jesus Christ of San Miguelito taken from the premises of the church under the hill. The statue is a diminute dot in the middle of a lush tropical vegetation. He looks so lonely there without his followers. He has been currently kidnapped by crime and drugs. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

When we got home, we prayed together for our country, for our families and for our marriage.  We were certain that without God in our lives, we were headed for chaos.  Now that the Christmas Season is coming, we need God in the middle of the festivities.  Christmas is not about Christmas trees, presents, lights, toy soldiers, spirits, parties, or Santa Claus.  Christmas is about the birth of baby Jesus Christ in a humble manger who came to teach us the value of Love.  Good Day.

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Joke: A Scary Letter

A father passing by his son’s bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to:

Dad

With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I’m writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Mom. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it’s not only the passion….Dad, she’s pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter.

We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn’t really hurt anyone.  We’ll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime, we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don’t worry, Dad.

I’m 15 and I know how to take care of myself.  Someday I’m sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,

Your son, John.

P.S. Dad, none of this is true. I’m over at Tommy’s house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than a report card that’s in my desk’s center drawer. I love you. Call me when it’s safe to come home.

How would you react reading a letter like this?  Good Day.

Source:  Old Horsetail Snake

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