Panama could face negative impacts in case of fleeing Colombian spy chief

Claims by President Ricardo Martinelli that the harboring of a Colombian fleeing justice would not have negative impacts have been challenged.

A specialist in international affairs Julio Berrios said Colombia  could reduce its embassy in Panama City if the government refuses to hand over Maria del Pilar Hurtado, former head of the Department of Administrative Security (DAS). She is accused of espionage.

Speaking to radio station KW Continente , Berrios said there were various ways in which the government in Bogotá could express its  anger over the reluctance of Panama to extradite the former official, accused of eavesdropping and illegal surveillance against political leaders, opposed to government Former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010) and of wiretapping judges and journalists.
Hurtado Has been  in Panama since November 2010. On November 22, Martinelli denied that the decision to harbor her was a "political favor" to his friend Uribe,   and argued that asylum would not create negative impacts.
Hurtado is wanted by the Attorney General of Colombia, Viviane Morales, to answer for her connection to one of the most serious cases of espionage in this country.
The criminal charges include conspiracy, illegal interception of communications, misuse of public office and falsifying documents.
After the scandal, Jorge Lagos, former DAS chief of counterintelligence, acknowledged that the Colombian secret service used to intimidate "political targets" and hatched smear campaigns against NGOs.
The secretary of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Luis Pérez Casas, a criminal complaint against Hurtado for unconstitutional actions,  with the Panamanian  Public Ministry  on November 23, but got no results.