Call for study of journalism gag bill
PRESIDENT Juan Carlos Varela has promised to veto a law regulating the exercise of journalism, but Panama delegates at the General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Society, taking place in Charleston, South Carolina, have asked the group to send a delegation to the country to analyze the draft bill.
Eduardo Quirós, president of Estrella, presented the report for Panama and stressed that the draft bill presented by Panameñista Deputy Juan Moya is unnecessary and could restrict press freedom.
La Prensa Director Lourdes de Obaldía told delegates that, despite a pledge by Varela to veto the law, it may be approved by the National Assembly.
Quirós told delegates that the draft law creates a commission to review and accredit journalists, which would also have to approve applications from foreign journalists seeking to work in the country. Those journalists would be allowed to work in Panama for a maximum of two years.
In addition, it proposes the establishment of a “disciplinary tribunal” that could suspend a journalist’s professional accreditation for ethical violations.
The government would have final say over the tribunal’s decisions.
The draft also establishes sanctions of “imprisonment from two to five years” for the so-called illegal exercise of the profession.
Quiros said the law is designed to limit the freedom of expression and represents an infringement on human rights.
