More threats against newspaper founder

Panama’s government responded yesterday with new threats against Roberto Eisenmann, founder of La Prensa  and a harsh critic of the management of president, Ricardo Martinelli.

Through a government  spokesman, Luis Eduardo Camacho,  Eisenmann was urged to ask the Public Prosecutor to investigate the allegations he has made publicly in relation to local entrepreneurs who have been asked to give part of  their businesses to members of  the government, and if they did not comply  were warned to, "look out for the consequences."

Camacho also described as "baseless allegations" statements by  Eisenmann, who said: "We are going from scandal to scandal in what seems like an orgy of theft from state funds."

Meanwhile, the head of the Department of Revenue, Luis Cucalón, denied that audits of a company owned by the Eisenmann family are political persecution.

Eisenmann reiterated Tuesday that the audit of the  Coronado Golf Development Company, SA, of which he is president and legal representative, is  no more than a "political audit" and "accounting nonsense." 

"I have no fear of saying things as they are," said the businessman who  challenged the government to sue in the courts.

"Most entrepreneurs are afraid because they feel they have no defense against government gangsterism.”