Panama Government wiretapping condemned

The wiretapping of politicians and trade unionists used to investigate the violent riots in Bocas del Toro after approval of the controversial Bill 30, has been severely criticized by civil society organizations, politicians and businessmen, while President Ricardo Martinelli claimed he was unaware of the action until he read it in newspapers.

Adolfo Linares, former president of the Chamber of Commerce, said "privacy is a constitutional guarantee that the authorities are obliged to protect. There is a legal procedure by which one can violate this right, and the correct steps are not followed, we are facing an unlawful act” 

Francisco Sanchez Cardenas, chairman of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) said that group has denounced the wiretapping to the American Court of Human Rights, the Ombudsman and the Public Ministry. "That was a violation of constitutional rights. Privacy is a guarantee for each person," he said.
Milton Henriquez, president of the Popular Party, said that the wire tapping called for  the attorney in charge, Giuseppe Bonissi, and approved by the Supreme Court, are "further proof that you are not using the Public Ministry to fight crime but to persecute opponents."
President Martinelli, claimed yesterday that he had been ignorant of the issue of wiretapping during riots in Bocas del Toro. "I learned today when I read the newspapers," he said on September 16.