U.S. criticizes human rights abuses in Panama

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Prensa

Panamá, sábado 9 de abril de 2011
U.S. criticizes human rights abuses in Panama

New criticism of the way in which Ricardo Martinelli's government handles the issue of human rights in Panama, appeared in a new report published by the State Department of the United States (U.S.).

According to the report, the "problems " of human rights in Panama in 2010 included: the use of "excessive force" by police during protests; corruption in the legislative and executive branches, as well as security forces; marginalization of indigenous communities on issues that affect them; corruption, inefficiency and alleged political manipulation of the judicial system.

In addition, the report criticized the conditions in Panamanian prisons, the pressure against media and journalists, and discrimination against people with disabilities.

This is a report that the U.S. government publishes annually on the human rights situation worldwide. Many complaints about Panama are repeated year after year, however the report issued this year contains new accusations related to the suppression of protests, the marginalization of indigenous communities, and intimidation of journalists.




Read more: http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2011/04/09/hoy/english/news_6807.asp

[msongs]

1. gee is Panama running Guantanamo now? nt

[HankyDubs]

2. sound familiar?

"the use of "excessive force" by police during protests; corruption in the legislative and executive branches, as well as security forces; marginalization of indigenous communities on issues that affect them; corruption, inefficiency and alleged political manipulation of the judicial system."

[Mnemosyne]

3. Our gov has taken hypocrisy to a new level. K&R n/t

[Judi Lynn]

Double posting. Sorry. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

4. Speaking of a government intimidating journalists, anyone remember Reagan's propagandist Otto Reich?

He was the slimy, vicious, back-biting, venemous, radical right-winger _{George W. Bush} slid under the door, into office, when the Senate was in reccess, as the Asst. Sec. of State for Latin America, after two rejections of his nomination by the Senate.

Here's his Wiki:

The Office of Public Diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean (S/LPD or ARA/LPD) was an intra-agency propaganda organization<1><2> established in the United States during the administration of Ronald Reagan. It was founded and managed by the Cuban-American Otto Reich, an ardent opponent of Fidel Castro.

~snip~
Besides media manipulation through planted stories and leaks, the S/LPD also cajoled and bullied journalists. Reich visited CBS in April 1984 to complain at length about its Central America coverage. In a memo to President Reagan, Secretary of State George P. Shultz described the meeting as an example of "what the Office of Public Diplomacy has been doing to help improve the quality of information the American people are receiving. It has been repeated dozens of times over the past few months."

Six months later, Reich met with a dozen National Public Radio reporters and editors about their allegedly biased Nicaragua coverage. According to NPR Foreign Affairs correspondent Bill Buzenberg, "Reich bragged that he had made similar visits to other unnamed newspapers and major television networks... Reich said he had gotten others to change some of their reporters in the field." Buzenberg told me in a 1987 interview that he viewed the S/LPD chief's comments as a "calculated attempt to intimidate."

The S/LPD had little tolerance for independent-minded reporters. In the summer of 1985, it helped circulate a specious story suggesting that US reporters received sexual favors from Sandinista-provided prostitutes in return for favorable coverage. "It isn't only women", Reich told New York magazine; for gay journalists, they would procure men.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Public_Diplomacy

http://www.ottoreichassociates.com.nyud.net:8090/ http://en.cubadebate.cu.nyud.net:8090/files/2011/04/otto-reich-en-newsweek-300x360.jpg http://shadowpress.org.nyud.net:8090/hondur1.jpg http://machetera.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2009/07/reich.jpg

Otto Reich

[russspeakeasy]

10. I had forgotten. Thanks (I think) for the memory.

[ixion]

5. HA! Like the US has any room to criticize

:eyes:

[a la izquierda]

6. and the US has a right to talk why? nt

[Luciferous]

7. Hmm, pretty hypocritical. K&R

[truth2power]

8. "U.S. criticizes human rights abuses..."

:rofl: :rofl: :silly:

[Le Taz Hot]

9. The irony is here is wholey disgusting. n/t