OFF THE CUFF: Panama spy network unravels

TWO KEY players in the Ricardo Martinelli administration’s illegal surveillance of opposition politicians, journalists, trade unionists, businessmen and civic leaders spent Monday night, January 12, behind bars awaiting the further interrogation by prosecutors.

 Alejandro Garuz and Gustavo Pérez, two of the five secretaries of the National Security Council of the Martinelli government, were charged Monday, with violation of privacy and confidentiality and taken in handcuffs to the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) in Ancon.
Their homes were searched as part of 11 raids in Panama, Chiriqui, Cocle and Veraguas and officers found unlicensed heavy weapons said Rolando Rodríguez Cedeño secretary general of the Public Ministry.
Martinelli, whose Twitter chatter has been largely silent recently, has avoided talking to the press, but on Radio Panama, described the government’s actions as “ political persecution.”
Martinelli’s son, Luis Enrique Martinelli, is married to Marelisa Garuz, daughter of Alexander Garuz.
Hundreds of pages of transcripts of email, phone, or live conversations of hundreds of Panamanians have been uncovered including former PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro, former foreign minister Samuel Lewis Navarro, Mitchell Dones,Francisco Sanchez Cardenas and former President Ernesto Perez Balladares.
Panameñista Deputy Jose Luis Varela, brother of President Juan Carlos Varela is another on the list of more than 150 whose privacy was invaded. “There were conversations between my wife and my son. Not only e-mails, but personal conversations in my office, were recorded, “he said.
The issue has even sparked international reactions reports La Prensa. “What is coming to light in Panama through judicial investigations is extremely serious and should be investigated to its logical conclusion. It is serious because it shows that senior officials of the former government were apparently violating the right to privacy of scores of people, “said José Miguel Vivanco, Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch.

The Martinelli era spy network used ambient Israeli audio listening devices, acquired for $13.5 million from MLM Protection
The interrogation of Garuz and Perez, continues and further arrests are anticipated. The question being asked by political commentators is: “Where does the buck stop?”