The family of Ricardo Martinelli has filed some thirty lawsuits (criminal and civil) against La Prensa corporation (Corprensa), its directors and journalists from La Prensa and Mi Diario news publications, and now the former President threatens to takeover the administration of the newspapers, via Tweet on 30 June.
Mr Martinelli does not need to be more clear about his intentions. His conduct has already been described as an attempt to censor, intimidate and / or persecute journalists and the media. Only against Corprensa, the Martinelli Linares family already accumulates 17 civil lawsuits : two filed by Marta Linares de Martinelli and 15 by the former president, in which the joint claim amounts to $46 million. In addition, they have filed 15 criminal complaints.
In total, they have sued 37 people, including journalists, executives, cartoonists and columnists from Corprensa.
I find the message very worrying, not only because of its tone but also because of the content of the threat, which for the first time speaks of raking over the administration of a media outlet. This represents a very serious attempt to abuse the judicial system to limit the rights of expression and information, said Sabrina Bacal, president of the National Council of Journalism (CNP).
Gerardo Berroa, director of the newspaper La Estrella de Panamá and president of the Forum of Journalists for Freedom of Expression and Information, also expressed his disapproval of the threat against the newspaper La Prensa.
The sole threat of a media owner, to takeover the administration of another media outlet, is an intolerable outburst. Worse still if a judicial authority materializes the action, because it would be violating freedom of information and therefore freedom of expression, said Berroa.
Roberto Eisenmann, founding president of the newspaper La Prensa, warned that a takeover would mean the closure of the corporation.
If someone in the judicial sector comes up with that dire purpose, we are in a very dangerous situation in this country. If it happens, we are talking about the closure of La Prensa. So that's the seriousness of the threat, said Eisenmann.
He recalled that in its four decades, La Prensa has been threatened and even suffered three closings in the 1980s, during the military dictatorship. The paper was always reborn stronger.
José Isabel Blandón, president of the Panameñista Party and former presidential candidate, considered that an administrative takeover would be a total outburst and an attack on freedom of expression.
"I would say the same if it were against Panama America or La Estrella. It is not right and less because of a civil lawsuit for damages. It would open a very dangerous door, he said. Panama America is a Martinelli newspaper.
The former attorney general and also former presidential candidate Ana Matilde Gómez rejected any threat to the media by the 'power forces'.
It is jeopardizing the freedom of expression of the entire society it serves, because citizens have no way to inform themselves, if not through the written, spoken or technological means. Communication must be exercised with responsibility and respect for the truth, and that should be its only limit, she indicated.
In total, they have sued 37 people, including journalists, executives, cartoonists and columnists from Corprensa.
I find the message very worrying, not only because of its tone but also because of the content of the threat, which for the first time speaks of raking over the administration of a media outlet. This represents a very serious attempt to abuse the judicial system to limit the rights of expression and information, said Sabrina Bacal, president of the National Council of Journalism (CNP).
Gerardo Berroa, director of the newspaper La Estrella de Panamá and president of the Forum of Journalists for Freedom of Expression and Information, also expressed his disapproval of the threat against the newspaper La Prensa.
The sole threat of a media owner, to takeover the administration of another media outlet, is an intolerable outburst. Worse still if a judicial authority materializes the action, because it would be violating freedom of information and therefore freedom of expression, said Berroa.
Roberto Eisenmann, founding president of the newspaper La Prensa, warned that a takeover would mean the closure of the corporation.
If someone in the judicial sector comes up with that dire purpose, we are in a very dangerous situation in this country. If it happens, we are talking about the closure of La Prensa. So that's the seriousness of the threat, said Eisenmann.
He recalled that in its four decades, La Prensa has been threatened and even suffered three closings in the 1980s, during the military dictatorship. The paper was always reborn stronger.
José Isabel Blandón, president of the Panameñista Party and former presidential candidate, considered that an administrative takeover would be a total outburst and an attack on freedom of expression.
"I would say the same if it were against Panama America or La Estrella. It is not right and less because of a civil lawsuit for damages. It would open a very dangerous door, he said. Panama America is a Martinelli newspaper.
The former attorney general and also former presidential candidate Ana Matilde Gómez rejected any threat to the media by the 'power forces'.
It is jeopardizing the freedom of expression of the entire society it serves, because citizens have no way to inform themselves, if not through the written, spoken or technological means. Communication must be exercised with responsibility and respect for the truth, and that should be its only limit, she indicated.