news

By law the regular session of the Legislative Assembly ended on June 30, and because the CEMIS affair is before the Supreme Court and won’t rule on anything until after the next legislative session starts in September, Mireya Moscoso won’t have to call another special session to maintain the deputies’ immunity from bribery charges in this interim. However, a mere DELAY in the possibility of accountability wasn’t acceptable to the Legislative Assembly, which the president’s supporters control. No, they opted for wee hours whizbang legislation that would end all investigations related to allegations that bribes were paid to obtain the approval of the CEMIS multimodal airport, container handling and industrial park project in Colon.

The proposal was introduced by Arnulfista deputy Jacobo Salas at 11:30 pm on June 29 and passed by a 39-14 vote at 3 am the following morning.

(President Moscoso won’t talk about the CEMIS affair these days. It is doubtful, but possible, that the courts would accept the legislature’s attempt to give itself permanent immunity for bribery. PRD candidate Martín Torrijos said that the CEMIS investigation and whatever trials may arise from it should follow their courses through the legal system without political interference. Cambio Democratico presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli said that the legislators involved in this latest manuever belong in jail.)

Meanwhile, the compromise version of a controversial law regulating Coiba Island National Park was changed in favor of developers’ interests, but then died with the legislative session when the third and final vote could not be scheduled before everyone turned into pumpkins. Most environmental groups were relieved that the demise of the original proposal, which would have taken control of the park from the National Environmental Authority and given it to a Mireyista clique with close ties to developers, but disappointed that an amended version that they generally liked didn’t pass.

Before their session ended, the legislature:

• Passed a law to reform prison administration. President Moscoso vetoed previous legislation on the subject.

• Approved a law creating criminal penalties for some environmental offenses.

• Provided 20-year prison terms for those who engage in acts of terrorism or who finance or launder money for terrorist acts.

• Approved a new series of coins commemorating Panama Viejo.

• Inserted a “tourist development zone” tax break for certain business at Tocumen Airport into a law allowing meals to be part of the compensation of certain low-paid private sector workers.

Among the things that the legislature didn’t accomplish before the deadline was Gloria Young’s proposal to increase farm laborers’ protections against harmful agricultural chemicals.

After the session was over, the nation’s Catholic bishops took the unusual step of condemning what the legislature had done. “We have sensed society’s disgust and we have to tell the truth, because [the assembly’s] attitude is neither worthy nor noble,” Archbishop Cedeño said.




Also in this section:
Panama News Briefs
On the campaign trail
Colombian Army hinders AUC demobilization
Legislative Assembly session ends
Mireya goes to Washington
Coyote faces death penalty

Back to top