Human rights hearing a three ring circus – Martinelli

Panamanian human rights advocates appearing before an OAS committee in the US, were described by President Martinelli as a three ring circus.
Martinelle and senior administration members attempted to discredit members of the Citizens Alliance for Justice and the Foundation for Due Process, who participated in hearings held at the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on the justice system in Panama.
Martinelli, described the hearing held in Washington DC, as "three people making a circus”
He added that "the buzz is to seek attention because they believe they are not taken into account".

The Martnelli statement came during the International Investment Conference of the Council of the Americas in Panama.

The Minister of the Presidency, Demetrio Papadimitriu, said the hearing was "unfortunate", and claimed, may affect the country’s image abroad. "We are shooting ourselves in the foot as Panamanians. We seek investments and try to promote our country, but such actions affect our image."

Giuseppe Bonissi, Panama’s Attorney General, recently installed to replace Ana Matilde Gomez, in what human rights activists see as a political move, said he did not follow the live broadcast of the hearing. "I do not have time to get to see rioting … things like that, I do not give importance to."