The diplomat said that on Wednesday there would be a 'peaceful' march in Panama which would be 'not a protest but as a repudiation and in solidarity' with the families of the victims.

He said the marchers will call on the authorities 'to continue or further their efforts in all security measures.' The comments came a week after a Dominica national was arrested in last year's kidnapping and killing of five young people of Chinese descent, who were buried in a house west of the capital.