The lawyer and analyst, Rodrigo Noriega, talked about the new threats to repress the exercise of journalism and freedom of expression on Wednesday afternoon, on the Panama Hoy evening news program, with the sole purpose of silencing public opinion, in turn, he addressed the issue of the departure of the two magistrates from the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) on December 31.
The lawyer considered that the most important thing is that Panamanians must understand that when talking about restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information, they are talking about a loss of freedom for all.
“Disguised censorship as a demand, kidnappings, intimidation of journalists, civil society and the media, is a defeat for democracy, we all lose and we are left without knowing the truth. What would this country be without investigative journalism? Everything that has been discovered in various governments, without favoritism. Critical and responsible journalism is essential for the exercise of democracy ”, he declared.
He also stressed that it is important to understand the situation we are experiencing, mentioning the international process that involves two “confessed criminals” in the United States with family ties to former President Ricardo Martinelli. “There is a case in Spain and of course there will be tensions against the media, they seek to silence the truth and I am sure that Panamanians will not let this happen,” said the lawyer.
Regarding the departure of justices Luis Ramón Fábrega and Hernán De León, Noriega declared that in the last six or eight years, the Supreme Court of Justice “has been a court of terrors.”
“We have not had the Supreme Court that Panamanians deserve in this period of democracy since 1990. We deserve an exemplary Supreme Court, of people committed to democracy, to ethics, unfortunately on very rare occasions this happened”, remarked.
He added that these two magistrates who are leaving, “believe me the country needs better people. They had 10 years to give their best services to the country and they didn’t. “
He specified that Fabrega did not have that leadership in shaping the CSJ and left important rulings pending, such as that of equal marriage, and joined some majorities for some key cases, without much conviction.
With the entry of the two new magistrates next Monday, January 3, 20200, Rodrigo Noriega assured that there is still hope in having a quality justice system that is at the service of the citizenry.
