government

Press lodges protest

The Consejo Nacional de Periodismo (CNP) and the Colegio Nacional de Periodistas (Conape) have both lodged objections to the actions of a politican whose security guards took the camera of a La Prensa photographer at a campaign event.

"It is inconceivable that in a democracy, and with Panama being a signatory to important international agreements, we are faced with a case such as this," said CNP Chairwoman Estela Villareal. "Politicians are our authorities that we call first to defend the right of free expression. They are not supposed to diminish it."

Villareal added that the CNP is considering filing a complaint with international press associations.

The incident took place on March 7 when Ministro de Obras Públicas Benjamín Colamarco was photographed at a Partido Revolucionario Democrático campaign event. He was apparently upset about his picture being taken because he had called in sick for work that day, and his presence at the event was a violation of the country's election laws.

Conape President Jean Marcel Chery described the incident as a "kidnapping" because the photographer was detained for three hours.

"These actions remind me of the miltary regime," he said.

Chery demanded an explanation from Colamarco and other PRD authorities.

La Prensa filed a complaint with Defensoría del Pueblo Ricardo Vargas earlier this week.

Yesterday, Vargas said that, at first glance, the incident appears to have infringed on the freedom of the press.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds," he said, adding that he has opened an investigation into the incident.