Bishops call for government truthfulness

Panama’s bishops issued a  blunt warning on Friday July 8, about the independence of state institutions and called for "loyalty to the truth".

A statement released at an  Episcopal Conference in Panama, said that  the country needs “the real independence of state bodies, to ensure democratic institutions and the rule of law in the country.".

To ensure the rule of law, said the bishops “requires the exercise of freedom of expression and free access to information,especially in regard to public affairs, in a climate of mutual respect and loyalty to the truth. "
Retired Archbishop José Dimas Cedeño said: "No one denies that there is concern about the lack of realindependence and effective powers of the state, a fact that nobody can deny”
According to Cedeno, there are many suspicions in Panamanian society that there is no real independence in the powers of the state. Winston Spadafora, a Supreme Court judge put a new spin on frequently voiced concerns by citizen groups that the judiciary is increasingly under pressure from the state. La Prensa  reports him as  intoning: There isseparation of state powers, but the Constitutionalso states that we must work in harmonious collaboration."
Political analyst Ebrahim Asvat said the call of the Church is over n the direction of this government. The Executive has emphasized itseagerness to control the legislature and judiciary.”
Asvat pointed out that the "small print" of the Free Trade Agreementwith the United States, includes as a requirement forratification  a strengthening of the institutions in the country. "This change will depend more on external forces than  internal forces."

Other citizens groups point to the personal choices of Supreme Court Judges by Presidenr Ricardo Martinelli,  the ousting of former Attorney General Ana Mathilde Gomez and government funded advertising programs attacking journalists.