HAVANA, Cuba.- A strong police operation to prevent concentrations of people in the vicinity of the Panamanian Consulate, located on 5th Avenue and 24th Street, in the Miramar neighborhood, determined the day of this April 11.
From Calle 20 to Calle 30, and from Calle 3 to 7, both State Security agents and uniformed National Revolutionary Police (PNR) cordoned off part of the area with yellow tape, including the park located at 19 and 34, near the Panamanian diplomatic headquarters.
One of the areas that apparently served as a checkpoint is located on 7th and 26th streets where, in addition to Cuban political police officers (Lieutenant Colonel Camilo among them), there was a bus full of young girls, some in uniform, ready to repress any attempt at protest.
Precisely yesterday, several independent journalists such as Juan Manuel Moreno, Luz Escobar and Camila Acosta, reported being besieged and watched by agents who prevented them from leaving their home.
Last March, the Government of Panama reported that it would require a transit visa from Cubans who travel through that country to another destination or return to their nation for three months, for which hundreds of Cubans gathered there waiting for a response from the Consulate officials.
A document issued by the Official Gazette of Panama explains that the Government has determined to establish more effective controls in relation to Cuban nationals due to the increase in passengers not admitted or rejected by the country of destination.
Currently, although the Embassy of Panama in Cuba is publishing a list of approved transit visas, the discontent of Cubans who need this document to travel continues.
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