By Victor G. Atencio
Human Rights Activists
Human Rights Network Panama
I want to make some things clear. Among them that not surprising statements by Mr Mark Gonzalez as no surprise, so much so that we could say that this man would be a test for all Greek philosopher Heraclitus who asserted that one does not bathe twice in the same river.
This seems to be false in the case of Rep. Gonzalez, it is not the first time in favor of this measure could violate the law, particularly international obligations on human rights undertaken by the Panamanian government.
As early as 2001 or so then-legislator, now deputy initiated a proposal in this regard [1] . And that same year was presented a note to the National Assembly where they were reminded that Panama has ratified the American Convention on Human Rights became part of our legal system by Act No. 15 of October 28, 1977, published in Official Gazette No . 18 468 of 30 November 1977 and the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, which became part of our legal system by Act No. 13 of 8 June 1991 which is published in the Official Gazette No. 21,816 of June 26, 1991.
Indeed paragraph 3 of Article 4 of the Convention provides that no "will restore the death penalty in the United that have abolished it.
And that is precisely the case of Panama, and that capital punishment is eliminated from our law since 1918. All this should remind Rep. Gonzalez today if you read the letter brought to the Assembly at that then.
Another thought could be done about as liberal democracies there are limits to the decisions that can be taken in a democracy. One of these limits are human rights.
But it may be recalled as during the 30s and 40s Germany Nazi took democratic measures "final solution" against the Jewish people, which led to one of the bloodiest genocides in history.
I want to make some things clear. Among them that not surprising statements by Mr Mark Gonzalez as no surprise, so much so that we could say that this man would be a test for all Greek philosopher Heraclitus who asserted that one does not bathe twice in the same river.
This seems to be false in the case of Rep. Gonzalez, it is not the first time in favor of this measure could violate the law, particularly international obligations on human rights undertaken by the Panamanian government.
As early as 2001 or so then-legislator, now deputy initiated a proposal in this regard [1] . And that same year was presented a note to the National Assembly where they were reminded that Panama has ratified the American Convention on Human Rights became part of our legal system by Act No. 15 of October 28, 1977, published in Official Gazette No . 18 468 of 30 November 1977 and the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, which became part of our legal system by Act No. 13 of 8 June 1991 which is published in the Official Gazette No. 21,816 of June 26, 1991.
Indeed paragraph 3 of Article 4 of the Convention provides that no "will restore the death penalty in the United that have abolished it.
And that is precisely the case of Panama, and that capital punishment is eliminated from our law since 1918. All this should remind Rep. Gonzalez today if you read the letter brought to the Assembly at that then.
Another thought could be done about as liberal democracies there are limits to the decisions that can be taken in a democracy. One of these limits are human rights.
But it may be recalled as during the 30s and 40s Germany Nazi took democratic measures "final solution" against the Jewish people, which led to one of the bloodiest genocides in history.
being so important not to contaminate the discussion about public consultations, including proposals that would go counter to the international commitments it must honor the Panamanian State.
not detract from the value in our democracy may have public consultations with those unhappy attempts.
[1] Reflections on the subject of the death penalty and previous attempts by Rep. Gonzalez, the thread can be found in historical outlined by Atencio Gomez, Victor. Humanitarian Doxa: Voices from the Panamanian activism. Universal Books. Panama, 2009, p. 16.
not detract from the value in our democracy may have public consultations with those unhappy attempts.
[1] Reflections on the subject of the death penalty and previous attempts by Rep. Gonzalez, the thread can be found in historical outlined by Atencio Gomez, Victor. Humanitarian Doxa: Voices from the Panamanian activism. Universal Books. Panama, 2009, p. 16.
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