‘No rule of law in Panama conference told

"There is no rule of law in Panama. It does not fill any of the minimum requirements” said Professor Miguel Antonio Bernal at a Washington human rights conference.

“There must be judicial independence, constitutional supremacy [and] respect for due process. These are minimum conditions, "said the professor during a conference organized by the Foundation for Due Process in Washington, DC.

Bernal said that there is a "smear campaign" against members of civil society who propose real reforms. They want "silence" he said.

Magaly Castillo, executive director of the Citizens Alliance for Justice, said:  "the Supreme Court is very political," so that "we can say that there is no separation of state powers."  Civil societywas excluded from opportunities for dialogue on the issue of justice.

Of all the countries of America, Panama wasthe only-with the exception of Haiti that still uses the inquisitorial system which records the highest rate of prisoners per capita.

Bernal argued that in Panama " there is a complete absence of judicial independence" and "a complete abandonment of constitutionalism."

The suspension of the Solicitor General, Ana Matilde Gomez, was handled with "flagrant violation of due process."