The role of media in a democratic society

Attacks on the media by the ruling administration have brought condemnation from many quarters, home and abroad, in recent months.

This weekend government and presidential confronations with the media have been compounded by the actions of a company that was the subject of an investigation by La Prensa. The company, and one of its key figures David Ochy has received over $400 million in contracts since the Martinelli government came into power. Some $60 million was in the form of direct (no bid) contracts.

The revelations led to a fleet of heavy construction vehicles and scores of workers blocking the La Prensa headquarters on Thursday July 2, and further demonstrations in front of the newspaper by workers employed by Ochy on Friday.

A recent column by political analyst Ebrahim Asvat, was published before the events at La Prensa hit the airwaves. He wrote:

Official figures have commented privately after the irrational departure of Jimmy Papadimitriu, that it was the government of  craziness. And even insiders began murmuring how dangerous the subject of governance has become in the last two years of the Martinelli era and that with such low public credibility it is difficult to govern.
The population no longer believes the President and this in itself is a problem. A turn of the rudder is required to transform the cabinet into a sort of transitional government and focus all attention on the country to guarantee free and fair elections. But the hot heads in the government promote the formation of a political cabinet. Something similar to what was done when cornered Noriega lost his compass and deepened the crisis by reaffirming his power and adding recalcitrant figures to the government
I feel that the people inside the CD need to wake up and begin to sense that if things get worse decisions must be made to safeguard the lucky few that remain. Few will be willing to bury the dead. And if we look at  the correlation of forces in the Assembly of Deputies there have been two new phenomena. The first, the formation of a Molirena faction controlled by Arnulfista defectors nominally led by Sergio Gonzalez-Ruiz, and the beginning of the  formation of a cluster of defectors that if  it tilts the balance towards the opposition, could have the ability to checkmate the government.
The waters begin to turn cloudy and within business sectors concern is manifested in the cessation of new investments. This panorama is worrying and yet the attacks on the media and threats to the business sector continue. Without a truce or a common commitment that must come from the government itself,  I see a path full of difficulties from now until the next election. The big problem we face in Panama is that today they listen and  reaffirm the commitment and do the opposite tomorrow. Just look at the sour relations between the president and the press which means the unnecessary wear and tear on the whole dynamic of government gives it no chance of success.

Governments are temporary and the media are eternal. The criticism of corruption and the questioning of state officials  must continue and the media must publicize and report irregularities. These are basic rules in the exercise of power in democratic governments that have not yet been rationalized in the minds of the current government.