Guarantees of speech freedom and press that have enjoyed for years the Panamanian media began to fade because of the Electoral Tribunal.
This institution ordered a monetary sanction against the local radio station KW Continente for allegedly violating Article 194 of the Electoral Code.
Although, both journalists associations and civil and business organizations look with considerable suspicio the decision of the judges of the electoral corporation.
Moreover, the suspicion arises, since this radio station has been characterized by widely questioning the management of the current president, Juan Carlos Varela , and most of his subordinates .
Within this framework of ideas, the organizations have sounded the alarm because they believe that this could be the start of a media campaign against those that show the remarkable failures of Varela officials.
" What not to do of a State or a Government is, by its own whim, say, 'I will close media because it belong to someone from the opposition or because it speaks badly of me", said Philemon Medina, general secretary union of Journalists of Panama.
Something similar to the Medina view, expressed Blanca Gomez, president of the National Association of Journalists (Conape) .
"We are on alert , it doesn't matter what the media is. Not because the media belong to the ex president Ricardo Martinelli, for example, they can order the closure and so", said the journalist.
Panamanian Association of Broadcasters also concerned by fine against KW Continente , while the Forum of Journalist of the Electoral Court rejects punishment .
Unlike these approaches, some deputies do not believe that it is an episode of persecution, as told Antonio Dominguez.
"Everyone, without excluding anyone, must follow the law ... and not because you put a sanction can speak of a persecution," said this source.
The head of government , Milton Henriquez, said the Electoral Court is a serious institution and who sees an act of intimidation because "it has retained the subsidy to all political parties that do not submit their reports on election campaign expenses " .
But the words of the latter two officials are in doubt, once it is known that besides KW Continente , there is a long list of media that allegedly ignored the same rule in question.
The question then arises : why is not the name of the other media are published and why only sanctioned KW Continente ?
The rumor about the Panamanian media intimidation began when Herbert Young panameñista recommended to strip the former president Ricardo Martinelli of media companies with which it has relationships.
Las cifras
1,000 dólares es el monto de la sanción que impuso el Tribunal Electoral a KW Continente.
194 es el artículo del Código Electoral que presuntamente violó KW Continente.
10 medios, además de Continente, violaron el mismo artículo.
