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Link to: RSF calls for repeal of “gag laws”

RSF calls for repeal of “gag laws”

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President Mireya Moscoso, RSF protested the adoption of Law 38, which restricts access to public information, and the jailing of Carlos Singares, editor of “El Siglo” daily. The organisation admitted being surprised by this measure, “given that [the president had] committed to reforming Panamanian law, by eliminating provisions that […]

Link to: Journalist faces jail for reporting sexual allegations against attorney general

Journalist faces jail for reporting sexual allegations against attorney general

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 26 July 2000 CPJ press release: Panama: Journalist faces jail for reporting sexual allegations against attorney general New York, July 26, 2000 — In a much-delayed ruling made public yesterday, Panama’s Supreme Court rejected the writ of habeas corpus filed by journalist Carlos Singares, who had appealed to the […]

Link to: CPJ concerned about lack of progress in reform of “gag laws”

CPJ concerned about lack of progress in reform of “gag laws”

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 July 2000 letter to President Mireya Moscoso, CPJ expressed its concern about the lack of progress in the reform of Panama’s “gag laws.” Two recent cases in which Panamanian journalists were sentenced to prison for allegedly defaming public officials highlight the urgency of abolishing these unjust statutes without delay. On […]

Link to: Journalist faces arrest for offending attorney general

Journalist faces arrest for offending attorney general

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 6 July 2000 CPJ press release: PANAMA: JOURNALIST FACES ARREST FOR OFFENDING ATTORNEY GENERAL New York, July 6, 2000 — Panama Attorney General José Antonio Sossa will decide this evening if he will order the arrest of journalist Carlos Singares, who is charged with showing “disrespect” for a public […]

Link to: IAPA calls for action against order to arrest journalist

IAPA calls for action against order to arrest journalist

**Updates IFEX alerts of 26 June and 31 May 2000** (IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 28 June 2000 IAPA press release: Miami (28 June 2000) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned and discredited the order to arrest the director of a Panamanian daily, and requested the Supreme Court of Justice to provide […]

Link to: New detention order against daily’s editor

New detention order against daily’s editor

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Attorney General José Antonio Sossa, RSF protested the raid of the “El Siglo” daily’s head offices and the order to arrest its editor, Carlos Singares. The organisation called on Sossa to annul the order. Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary-general, recalled that in January 2000, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of […]

Link to: Daily’s editor faces prison sentence

Daily’s editor faces prison sentence

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Attorney General José Antonio Sossa, RSF protested the order to detain Carlos Singares, editor of the “El Siglo” daily. RSF asked Sossa to repeal his 25 May 2000 ruling. Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary-general, noted that in January, the United Nations special rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression remarked […]

Link to: President signs bill eliminating gag laws

President signs bill eliminating gag laws

**Updates IFEX alerts of 2 December, 3 August and 4 March 1999** (CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 December 1999 CPJ news alert: New York, December 21, 1999 — Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso signed a bill yesterday eliminating two of the country’s “gag laws,” which have been used to stifle press freedom. Moscoso described […]

Link to: Gag laws partially repealed

Gag laws partially repealed

In a major step forward for press freedom in Panama, the country’s Legislative Assembly approved a bill repealing some of the more onerous provisions of the country’s “gag laws”. The new bill, passed on the night of 30 November 1999 with the approval of 70 of the Legislative Assembly’s 71 members, repeals part of Law […]

Link to: Powerful Panamanians conspire to smear local editor

Powerful Panamanians conspire to smear local editor

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is alarmed about a defamation campaign being waged against Gustavo Gorriti, the Peruvian-born associate editor of the leading Panama City daily “La Prensa”. Earlier this month, a mysterious organization called the “Committee for Freedom of Expression in Panama” put up posters all around Panama City that showed Gorriti’s face with the slogan, […]

Link to: Cabinet approves amendment to gag law

Cabinet approves amendment to gag law

(CPJ/IFEX) – On 28 July 1999, two days after withdrawing a proposed amendment to the 1978 gag law in the face of national and international criticism, the Panamanian Cabinet approved an only slightly different amendment to the law. As a 30 July editorial of the Panama City-based daily “La Prensa” put it, this new bill […]

Link to: Gag laws used against journalists

Gag laws used against journalists

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 4 March 1999 CPJ press release: **For related cases on Panamanian journalists see IFEX alerts of 30 December and 30 January 1998, 16 October, 22 September and 7 August 1997 and others** In a letter sent to Panamanian President Ernesto Pérez Balladares today, CPJ condemned his government’s use of […]

Link to: Police raid “La Prensa”, attempt to arrest investigative reporter Herasto Reyes

Police raid “La Prensa”, attempt to arrest investigative reporter Herasto Reyes

(CPJ/IFEX) – On 28 December 1998 Panamanian police raided the offices of “La Prensa”, Panama’s leading daily, and attempted to arrest Herasto Reyes, an investigative reporter with the paper. His colleagues surrounded Reyes to shield him. One of them, investigative reporter and CPJ International Press Freedom Award recipient Gustavo Gorriti, denounced the incident as a […]

Link to: Journalists charged with slander

Journalists charged with slander

(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF’s information, associate director of the oppostion daily “La Prensa” Gustavo Gorriti and reporter Rolando Rodriguez were charged on 20 January 1998 with “slander, insult, and falsehood” by Panama’s Attorney General Jose Antonio Sossa. In July 1996, the two journalists published an article revealing that Sossa had received a cheque for […]

Link to: Journalist Gustavo Gorriti granted work visa by Panamanian government

Journalist Gustavo Gorriti granted work visa by Panamanian government

(CPJ/IFEX) – Gustavo Gorriti, associate director of the opposition daily “La Prensa”, was granted a work visa by the Panamanian government on 15 October 1997, ending the threat of expulsion from that country. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 22 September and 7 August 1997** Background Information On 4 August, in apparent response to Gorriti’s investigative reporting, […]

Link to: Deportation order issued against Peruvian journalist Gustavo Gorriti

Deportation order issued against Peruvian journalist Gustavo Gorriti

(AMARC/IFEX) – According to the Pulsar news agency, on 19 September 1997, Panama’s immigration department delivered a deportation order to Peruvian journalist Gustavo Gorriti, associate director of the opposition daily “La Prensa”, for being in the country illegally. After signing the order, Gorriti told journalists in the capital that he and his lawyers would launch […]