US  trashes Panama human rights record

From recurrent institutionalized corruption to conditions in the prison system, and rights of indigenous people and persons with disabilities  Panama got largely failing grades in the latest report of The US Department of State.

The report also deals with the issue of freedom of expression, particularly in reference to the demands of the media and journalists. Under the same section of the report are mentioned the threats and attacks carried out by deputies against the media in the plenary session of the National Assembly. The report recalls that, constitutionally, the deputies are protected during these interventions and cannot be sued.

The report highlights the poor medical and health conditions in the national prison system,  and castigates the shortage of prison guards, as in 2018 there were around 1,700 although it is estimated that the system needs 2, 870 to operate correctly.

The report fingers the reopening of the island prison in Punta Coco, and refers makes reference to the petition published by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) to close it.

The report published on the website of the  State Department details existing limitations on foreigners in the national territory and summarizes the procedures that exist for refugees and foreigners seeking asylum in Panama.

Corruption
The most developed section deals with corruption and lack of transparency in the state and mentions the anti-corruption mechanisms that have been implemented without major benefits. It details cases of corruption of police officers to former government officials, mentioning judicial cases for the alleged commission of crimes against the administration of Luis Cucalón, Demetrio Jimmy Papadimitriu, and Jaime Ford.

The State Department explains and summarizes, the subject of the criticized payrolls of the National Assembly, explaining the denunciations by the comptroller Federico Humbert before the Supreme Court of Justice for that matter.

It also refers to the fact that the judicial system is inefficient and susceptible to corruption, as well as to internal and external influences. The report adds that there were also complaints of interference by the Executive Branch in the administration of justice.

Finally, the report deals with some broader issues, such as the lack of racial and gender representation in important boards of directors and decision-making positions. and it also mentions that the law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.