The Weapon of Terror

In the course of the trial for violation of privacy and private communications, known as the case of punctures, an underground current has emerged that seeks to deprive Panamanians of fundamental rights such as the freedom to express themselves freely and to be informed.

This current not only aims to silence critical media, but to intimidate public servants who do their job, and threaten every citizen or disagree with the interests of their sponsor. It is more than evident that the cause of all this does not seek justice or exercise their right to defense, but evade the action of justice.

Never before in the history of the past 30 years has it been possible to reveal so much and so rampant corruption. From overpriced and unjustified addenda in public works contracts, to unnecessary works, paid with our taxes, have been made public knowledge. “Stole, but did,” is the motto with which proudly the acolytes of the regime tried to ward off criticism and campaign.

The responsibility of the independent media, those without owners or hidden agendas, is to reveal the vices of power, that during the previous administration almost destroyed the social and human fabric of this country.

What is happening is not a secret. Attempts to intimidate prosecutors, witnesses, victims, journalists and judges, including citizens outside the conflict, but critical of what they read and see, have the open purpose of subjecting them to silence or, failing that, filtering the voices so that only listen to those that suit the prisoner whose fortune supports this strategy. What is the purpose of threatening to sue a prosecutor or a media outlet or a journalist who narrates what happens before their eyes?

The theater of these actions is not limited to the judicial level. Propaganda operations in favor of the owner, mimicked in the form of news in their media, rudely reveal their “journalistic” agenda: intimidating, harassing,  silencing and confusing public opinion that the boss* is a poor persecuted politician, victim of political revenge and media.

‘La Prensa’, in its 39 years of history, has had to face all kinds of attacks and lies. The north of our journalistic coverage has always been the

defense of freedom and the fight against corruption. Both in dictatorship and in democracy, we have done our work conscientiously, with respect to the truth and maximum responsibility.

It is surprising how quickly lawsuits against this media are processed, as recently demonstrated in a conviction. That hurry contrasts with the slowness of the legal actions that this journalistic company has been forced to take to justice to defend the rights and freedoms of all. But we will continue fighting without failing.

What is ultimately involved is to run over the human rights of the victims for abominable actions perpetrated in a very recent period of our history. There are those who seek a clean slate at all costs with the new government, arguing that justice is really revenge. If this thesis triumphs, impunity will become the poison that may end up ending our democracy, as has already happened in neighboring countries.- LA PRENSA, May 28.

*Panama America and Critica are controlled by Ricardo Martinelli