Business leaders join outcry over fine on La Prensa

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture was among the first to condemn the $5,000 fine imposed on La Prensa by the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (Antai).

“Fining the media with absurd arguments distances it from that purpose, and creates a serious precedent in terms of freedom of expression information,” said the union, chaired by Marcela Galindo. 

Social media was flooded with similar comments and photographs of Robinson while the National Journalism Council, the Journalism Forum, the Panamanian Broadcasting Association, and the Chiriquí Journalists Association, stated that Antai’s decision violates freedom of expression and information, violating the fundamental rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized and guaranteed both in the Political Constitution of the Republic of Panama and in the American Convention on Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

They added that in the face of the controversy between private interest and public interest, doctrine and international jurisprudence repeatedly point out that the right of all to be informed must prevail. They recalled that Article 43 of the Constitution enshrines the right of all citizens to have access to public information contained in “…databases or records maintained by public servants…

They asked Antai to “reverse promptly” the action that violates the right of access to public information, and that constitutes an affront to freedom of expression in Panama.

According to a resolution of the Antai, La Prensa had to request permission from Robinson to use his photo, since it is “sensitive” biometric data and its misuse can put at “grave risk” the owner of the image (Robinson).”

In a statement, Conape expressed its concern about the sanction imposed by this institution on a media outlet.

It said that the measure adopted by Antai violates the exercise of ethical and responsible journalism.

“It is not the first time that Antai, an institution that must guarantee government transparency, sanctions media and journalists for the use of data that is of public interest, violating the inalienable right to information that Panamanian society has,” added the union.

The fine followed a journalistic note about businesses with transportation and the quotas granted by the Transit and Land Transportation Authority (ATTT).