Family members of the victims of investigations carried out by the administration of President Juan Carlos Varela were received yesterday by representatives of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (ICHR). On the occasion, they requested the urgent and necessary intervention of the ICHR in defense of the politically persecuted.
Yesterday, the SOS Panama movement requested the intervention of the ICHR through an 'on-the-ground mission'; to review and analyze the conditions of human rights in the country.
Former first lady Marta Linares De Martinelli denounced the meddling of the executive in the administration of justice. In a note addressed to the president of the ICHR, James Cavallaro, the former first lady related how "in Panama a number of persecutions and violations of human rights have taken place, such as attacks on physical or mental health, personal freedom as well as the respect for due process and the presumption of innocence”.
She went on to accuse 'President Juan Carlos Varela of carrying out reprisals against former President Ricardo Martinelli and those who served as officials in his administration', singling out the public ministry as "the executor of a vengeful plan carried out via preventive detention measures that are arbitrary, unjust and illegal, against people whose penal profile do not warrant incarceration".
Paulo Abrao, Executive Secretary of the ICHR, which forms part of the Organization of American States, yielded the floor. Ms. Linares de Martinelli denounced that there is evidence that President Varela is attempting to control social media in order to quash criticism of his administration. She pointed to the poor performance of the economy and to the lackluster execution of ministerial budgets, explaining that current ministers are fearful of suffering a similar fate to that of former officials at the hands of prosecutors.
As part of the inauguration of 159th period of ICHR sessions, which this year takes place in Panama, a number of victims as well as political personalities publicly denounced alleged wrongdoing on the part of the judiciary, which has led to the detention of businessmen and former government officials.
Since 7.00 AM, protesters branding placards and even a cardboard coffin to simulate the death of one of the detainees, stood outside the hotel that hosted the event, demanding the intervention of the organization. They also delivered a note listing all cases of political persecution.
Other representatives of SOS Panama declare that 'members of the CIHR can no longer turn a blind eye to this situation and must be made aware of the extent of the violation of human rights in Panama'.
They cited the example of Riccardo Francolini, president of TV channel NEXtv, who has suffered torture and other physical abuse in his national police cell. Mr. Francolini is being held for alleged irregularities in relation to a savings bank (Caja de Ahorros) loan that had actually been formally approved. His case has been dubbed a juridical aberration.
“It is no coincidence that this case is directed at the president of a TV channel which has been critical of the government”. For this reason, the former first lady highlighted this case as representing an attack against freedom of expression, pointing to the treatment of journalist Fernando Correa as further evidence. Mr. Correa was apprehended for interrogation in the middle of the live morning news report.
The mothers of some detainees such as Riccardo Francolini and Gustavo Perez also participated in the protest gathering and denounced the injustice suffered by their children, who are being kept locked up without legal basis.
In response to this, Romulo Roux, Secretary General of Cambio Democratico (CD), accused President Varela of meddling with the judiciary. In reference to the savings bank case, he alleged that detainees have been subjected to torture in an effort to have them declare against others.
According to Mr. Roux, this is part of a plan between Panameñistas and PRD aimed at weakening the opposition CD.
For his part, former security minister Jose Raul Mulino denounced "those mercenary prosecutors who respect neither due process nor the rule of law. 'Mr. Mulino - who was himself detained for six months during the investigation of a contract for the purchase of military radars - argued that prosecutors have repeated failed to respect term limits. He decried the fact that no judge has yet to take action against rogue prosecutors "who act with impunity', leaving people no choice but to protest with the ICHR.
He also sounded a note of concern regarding the funding of the ICHR event, which was sponsored by the Panamanian government.
In spite of that, Mr. Mulino was hopeful that the meeting could provide a platform to denounce the wrongdoing occurring in Panama today and to avoid the country becoming another Venezuela.
Porfirio 'Bolita' Ellis, a local politician, equally denounced 'the sick, unjust and arbitrary persecution occurring in Panama'.
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