Panama marches against corruption, impunity

PANAMA CITIZENS gathered in their hundred on Thursday, Feb, 18 to join  in  two matches to protest corruption and impunity.

One group called  “The march for Truth””= headed to the Office of the Attorney General to voice their concerns over impunity in cases that have come to light in recent years, especially the Odebrecht scandal.

It contained  representatives of  civil organizations and guilds Among them were professor and lawyer Miguel Antonio Bernal, Carlos Lee and Magaly Castillo, from the Citizen Alliance For Justice , ex- Electoral Court  judge Guillermo Márquez Amado; The President of the National Bar Association, José Alberto Álvarez, and the politician Olimpo Sáez.

“Given the slowness of the State authorities, particularly the Public Prosecutor’s Office, we need action against those who have attacked the property of the Panamanian people,” a statement said.

“That’s why we have set up the Citizens Against Impunity group,”  the statement added.

They also criticized The Electoral Prosecutor’s Office.

In January, the Public Ministry ordered the investigation of 17 people  for alleged  money laundering, as part of the investigations of the $59 million in bribes  coming from Odebrecht through  accounts in Swiss banks.

“Let them return the coima” (bribes) participants shouted.

At about 6:30 p.m. they arrived at the Public Ministry and pledged an oath of loyalty to the  national flag  and sang the  national anthem.

Earlier  members of the National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso) began their march from Porras Park to the National Assembly.

As they passed through Calidonia, protesters chanted slogans against political parties and members of the current government for their possible ties to the Odebrecht plot

Genaro López, a leader of the Union of Construction Workers and Similar (Suntracs), told La Estrella that he does not agree with separating the Attorney General of the Nation, Kenia Porcell, as some sectors have suggested.

Lopez said that the money that belongs to the Panamanian people must be repaid and that the ‘corrupt’ should be sanctioned.

Frenadeso maintains its position that public officials who are proven to have accepted money be imprisoned and that an original constituent assembly be called.

Priscila Vázquez, representative of the administrative officials of the Social Security Fund, said that the government and employers are accomplices of impunity.

Alberto Álvarez, l president of the Bar Association, said that no Panamanian, except the high officials of the government, believes  that only those who are in the group of 17 being investigated are linked to the scandal.

Citizens, he said, also do not believe that only $ 59 million was awarded in bribes.