By Ingrid Bachmann
The president of Panama’s National Journalism Council, Guillermo Antonio Adames, reported that he received threats from individuals close to President Ricardo Martinelli, La Estrella and Panamá América report.
The incidents occurred several days after the journalist and owner of the Omega Stereo radio station criticized the government, especially in terms of freedom of expression violations, in an interview with La Prensa.
“I am responsible for what I said,” Adames told Telemetro. “I have the right as a Panamanian citizen to share my opinions about this government.”
The threats warned Adames that they would hurt him and told him to change the tone of his criticism. He was also told that he could be audited, a threat that was realized Nov. 18, when his radio station received a surprise visit from tax inspectors, La Prensa adds. The journalist said it called it a “reprisal.”
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
