BRIEFS. Judicial

Family of slain dissident celebrates ruling

The family of Heliodoro Portugal will continue to push the government to recognize a recent ruling by Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH), holding the state accountable for the kidnapping and murder of the doctor and political dissident in 1970.

Patria Portugal, daughter of the slain doctor, said her family will hold Panama to all of the ruling’s stipulations, particularly the government’s acknowledgement that the military regime committed many crimes.

Last Friday, CIDH judges notified the parties its judgment ordering the State to pay Portugal’s family $190,000 in compensation.

“This ruling will make it an internationally recognized fact that there were forced disappearances and human rights violations,” commented Patria. “And now the state has to go and ask forgiveness for all of those deaths and disappearances.”

Relatives had gathered to celebrate the birthday of Graciela De Leon, Heliodoro’s partner and mother of Patria and Franklin Portugal. The celebration coincided with the delivery of the court’s ruling.

“We are very happy because it does justice to my father,” added Patria, who spent years keeping the case alive.