Panama

PANAMA The Panamanian press carries out its job without restrictions, but threats exist beeause restrictive legislation from the Noriega dictatorship remains in effect. Here are the most important developments since the mid-year meeting: The president, citing inclusion of a labor question he said was not part of the original agreement, vetoed a bill that would have finally resolved the legal problems of Editora Panamá América. The IAPA made repeated but unsuccessful efforts to win approval of the measure, including a personal visit by Roberto Suárez and Roberto Eisenmann. On September 23, the Legislative Assembly by a two-thirds vote overrode the presidential veto. Beeause the president in his veto said the bill was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court will now have to decide whether the law can go into effect. Public officials, citing laws from the dictatorship, continue to threaten media personnel. The latest threat came from the president himself in a September 9 letter to the newspa per La Prensa, in which he complained of allegedly damaging news reports. The most blatant incident carne when Panama City Mayor Mayín Correa slapped the editor of the magazine Momento. The situation was made worse when the president sent the mayor a bouquet of flowers beca use of her action. The newspaper El Siglo continues to defend itself against libel suits filed by publie officials against its reporters. Lawsuits against Dagoberto Franco and Bias Julio still are pending and the suit that led to the closing of the weekly Quiubo still has not been resolved. The recently formed Journalists' Forum on Free Speech has proposed five goals: a) Repeal of all press laws. It presented a bill to this end to the president and the minister of government and justice Both have promised repeatedly they will back the measure in the Legislature. b) A constitutional amendment guaranteeing free speech. Such a measure was approved by the Legislature during debate on constitutional amendments but, following pressure by some joumalists who want to preserve the status qua, the vote was rescinded. e) A professional code of ethics. d) Elimination of criminal penalties in cases of "offenses against honor." e) A law allowing access to public information. The Forum will continue its battle to attain its libertarian goals