Panama

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 12 March 2007 RSF letter to the president of Panama: HE Martín Torrijos President of Panama Dear Mr. President, The National Assembly approved a package of amendments to the criminal code in a plenary session on 6 March. It now falls to you to promulgate the amendments within a […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 22 February 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release: Panama: Proposed Criminal Code Threatens Freedom of Expression and Information ARTICLE 19 is very concerned about proposals to reform the Panamanian Criminal Code and, in particular, Articles 187, 188-A and 422, which would represent a serious threat to freedom of expression […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has urged parliament not to back a proposal for criminal law modification, which passed its first reading on 7 February 2007, three articles of which pose a very serious threat to freedom of expression and the press. The worldwide press freedom organisation also wondered what prompted this development, when the tendency in […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 June 2006 IAPA press release: IAPA concerned at bid to amend Penal Code in Panama MIAMI, Florida (June 20, 2006) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) said today it is extremely concerned at the introduction of a draft bill to reform the Penal Code in Panama, saying […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the political pressure that apparently led to the dismissal of reporter Rafael Antonio Ruiz and deputy editor César Iván Castillo of the daily “El Siglo”. The two were fired on 14 November 2005 over a report in that day’s issue, alleging that a presidential bodyguard was implicated in a drug trafficking […]

(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a 20 October 2005 WPFC letter to Panamanian President Martín Torrijos Espino: His Excellency Martín Torrijos Espino President of the Republic of Panama Presidential Palace Panama City, Panama cc: Honorable Representative Elías Ariel Castillo, Speaker of the National Assembly Honorable Héctor Alemán, Minister of Government and Justice Your Excellency: On […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 19 August 2005 IAPA press release: IAPA concerned at multi-million-dollar lawsuit, proposed seizure of journalist’s salary in Panama MIAMI, Florida (August 19, 2005) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expressed concern today at a multi-million-dollar lawsuit filed against the newspaper Panamá América and the proposed confiscation of the […]

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – Supreme Court Justice Winston Spadafora has filed a complaint against journalist Jean Marcel Chéry of “La Prensa” newspaper for an 18 July 2005 article reporting that Attorney General Ana Matilde Gómez had said that judges had to render accounts for their decisions, although Spadafora was scarcely mentioned in the article (see “Magistrados deben […]

(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a 21 July 2005 WPFC letter to Panamanian President Martín Torrijos Espino: Washington, USA, July 21, 2005 His Excellency Martín Torrijos Espino President of the Republic of Panama Presidential Palace Panama City, Panama cc: Honorable Deputy Jerry Wilson Navarro, President of the National Assembly Your Excellency: On behalf of the […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is an 18 May 2005 IAPA press release: IAPA pleased over repeal of gag laws in Panama Miami (May 18, 2005).- The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today welcomed the unanimous approval by the Legislative Assembly in Panama of a bill to repeal the gag laws and said that this eliminates […]

(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a 24 March 2005 WPFC letter to President Martín Torrijos Espino: Washington, USA, March 24, 2005 His Excellency Martín Torrijos Espino President of the Republic of Panama Presidential Palace Panama City, Panama Your Excellency: On behalf of the World Press Freedom Committee (http://www.wpfc.org), an organization comprising 45 press freedom groups […]

(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Pablo O’Brien Cuadros, of the Lima-based newspaper “El Comercio”, is facing legal action in a Panama court. On 25 January 2005, a case against the journalist was admitted at the Thirteenth District Prosecutor’s Office in Panama City. He is accused of “acting against the public faith and falsifying information”. A complaint was […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on newly-elected President Martin Torrijos to repeal all laws that still provide for prison terms for media offences. Torrijos was sworn into office on 1 September 2004. “We urge you to remove these laws from Panamanian legislation within the next 100 days,” the organisation said in an appeal to Torrijos. […]

(IPYS/IFEX) – On 16 July 2004, investigate journalist Carlos Eduardo Huertas, of the Colombian magazine “Semana”, was mistreated by security personnel at the Albrook airport in Panama. Huertas had submitted a formal request to the Panamanian Civil Aviation authorities for permission to view certain public documents. The incident occurred when Huertas went to the airport […]

(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a 12 July 2004 WPFC letter to Jacobo Salas, speaker of the Legislative Assembly: His Excellency Jacobo Salas Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Panama City, Panama Your Excellency: On behalf of the World Press Freedom Committee (http://www.wpfc.org), an organization comprising 45 press freedom groups from throughout the world, I wish […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 30 June 2004 RSF open letter to President-elect Martín Torrijos Espino: Mr. Martín Torrijos Espino President-elect of the Republic of Panama Panama City Panama Paris, 30 June 2004 Dear Mr President-elect,* Reporters Without Borders is astonished at the draft constitutional reform proposed by your party that will leave untouched […]