Government mouthpiece move over Lavitola trial, rejected

A MOVE by the presidential spokesman to question a radio station over the court statements of one its staff in a case involving Panama officials has been slapped down.

After five years in office the administration has not learned how to deal with the media say journalists after the spokesman challenged a radio station over evidence referring to President Ricardo Martinelli in an Italian corruption trial.

Prisa Radio responded to the Presidency of the Republic and distanced itself from Finmeccanica issue, arguing that the statements of its correspondent Juan Solés with the Italian authorities on Thursday were personal.

"While it is true that Solés was called at his office to testify, it is clear that the summons was made individually and not on behalf of Prisa Radio," the company said.
The reaction arose after the Presidency announced that it would seek an explanation from the Spanish Radio group over statements by Solés in the Naples, where Lavítola is accused of extorting money from the Italian company Impregilo, from which, on behalf of President Ricardo Martinelli he demanded the construction of a pediatric hospital costing $22 million in Veraguas.
In addition, he gave evidence to Italian judges of received insults and threats from the Martinelli government, based on public statements by senior officials, including ministers Alma Cortés and Roberto Henriquez.

He also referred to Security, minister Raoul Mulino Italian companies, and referred a secret agreement for the construction of the Metro, which featured Francisco Martinelli, cousin of the President.
Solés also showed photographs of a trip he took to South Africa along with Martinelli an André Rabello, head of Odebretch in Panama, which built the Metro.
The State Ministry of Communication said on Monday that Solés "cited by the opposition newspaper La Prensa" and provides statements as a correspondent of the Prisa Group and will make inquiries with the media corporation on its position around his news reports.
The director of Panama Radio, a station that is part of the Prisa group, Edwin Cabrera, considered the official statement "nonsense" and said the government does not understand the role of the media.
The government letter was also rejected by aroused journalist guilds.
The president of the Forum of Journalists, Simón Bolívar Aleman said Prisa " does not owe any explanation to the Presidency", and that its duty is to inform especially if an issue involves the ruler.
"Freedom of expression is unconditional and is the right of the Prisa group ro report what is happening in Italy," he said.
The president of the National Association of Journalists, Rafael Candanedo said that this statement is evident that "The Presidency has not learned in five years how to deal with the media."