Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 14604 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07 1988/08
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA ATRN AID AND ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ADCO AADP AL AMED AY AORG ASEAN ABUD AO AGRICULTURE ARF AGAO AROC AINF APCS AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BH BM BO BTIO BE BX BILAT BIDEN BP BC BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CM CR CONS CW CDC CN CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CARICOM CBE COE COM CIVS COUNTER CACS COPUOS CFED CAPC CTR CV CARSON CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CZ CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DOMESTIC DK DOD DE DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ERNG ECONOMY ELECTIONS EXIM ENERG EK EDEV EPA ENGR ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS ECA EINVEFIN EDU EFINECONCS EUREM ECOSOC ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FAO FINR FM FDA FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GLOBAL GV GL GOV GOI GF GH GTMO GE GANGS GCC GAERC GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HI HUM HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC ITRA IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN INDO ICAO ID IPR INMARSAT ICRC INTERNAL IIP ILC IRS IO ICJ IQ ICTY IEFIN IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHN JOSEPH JAMES JOHNNIE JIMENEZ
KNNP KFLO KDEM KOMC KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSTC KIRC KICC KSEO KSAF KPWR KIDE KNUC KR KNUP KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KMPI KPAONZ KHLS KPRP KHDP KHIV KTRD KWAC KTAO KJUST KTBT KACT KCRCM KNPP KAWK KMRS KBTS KHSA KSCI KPRV KNAR KVRP KFSC KBCT KMFO KENV KNDP KNNPMNUC KO KERG KPIR KCOM KAID KTLA KCFE KVIR KX KPOA KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LU LTTE LA LI LH LG LO LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO ML MIL MTCR MG MAPP MZ MD MAR MP MR MU MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NC NA NATIONAL NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NP NE NR NGO NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OPAD ODIP OVIPPRELUNGANU OIE OFDP OFFICIALS OSCI OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PAS PALESTINIAN PNAT PPA PROP PREZ PRELPK PAIGH PO PROG POLITICAL PJUS PRAM PMIL PARMS PG PREO PINO PGOF PAO PDOV PSI PTERE PTE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE RO ROOD RELAM REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SEN SN SC SF SENVSXE SL SAARC SARS SNARIZ SCRS SWE STEINBERG SG SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TP TW TS TZ TN TC TF TT TK TD TERRORISM TWI TL TV TO TRSY TURKEY TSPAM TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UNSC UK UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UNHRC USPS UNSCR UNESCO UV UNMIC UNCHR USUN UNHCR USGS UNEP USNC USOAS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WS WHO WTO WA WZ WI WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XH XB XU XE XV XD XC XY XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YMCS YE
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZL ZB ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08PANAMA698, PANAMA: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08PANAMA698.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08PANAMA698 | 2008-08-21 20:03 | 2011-05-29 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Panama

`

    VZCZCXYZ0001
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #0698/01 2342003
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 212003Z AUG 08
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2439
    INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

` `

    UNCLAS PANAMA 000698

    SENSITIVE

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM
    SUBJECT: PANAMA: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP

    -------
    SUMMARY
    -------

    ¶1.  (U) Post plans to provide a regular human rights update
    to supplement the yearly Human Rights Report in order to
    track emerging changes in the human rights situation in
    Panama.  Below follows a summary of Post's most recent
    contact with a number of groups advocating for the rights of
    individuals, including women, homosexuals and persons with
    disabilities.  END SUMMARY

    -------------------------
    Women: Murders by Spouses
    -------------------------

    ¶2.  (SBU) More than 30 women were killed by their spouses
    last year, according to Maribel Jean, Executive Director of
    the Catholic NGO Justice and Peace, who met with POLOFF on
    June 5.  The concern that domestic violence was on the rise
    was echoed by Dayanara Salazar Medina of the Human Rights
    Ombudsman's Office of Women's Affairs on July 9.  Salazar
    noted that 20 more women were killed already this year in
    domestic violence situations, the majority in impoverished
    areas, and she speculated that the economic pressure on poor
    families contributed to the spike. Jean noted that Panama
    needed more shelters or other safe places for battered women
    to go after making an accusation of abuse.

    ----------------------------
    Quotas for Women in Politics
    ----------------------------

    ¶3.  (SBU) Panama's electoral law states in article 239 states
    that "political parties will guarantee that, at a minimum,
    30% of their candidates for posts inside the parties or for
    candidates for popular election are women."  In June, a
    women's political organization, the National Forum of Women
    in Political Parties, filed a complaint with the Electoral
    Tribunal (TE) that the parties were not complying with this
    requirement.  For example, for the primary elections, the
    only 17% of Panamenista Party candidates were women and 16%
    of Patriotic Union candidates were women. In reply, a
    magistrate of the TE noted in an interview that it was not
    obligatory for the parties to have 30% of eventual general
    election candidates be female, but only that the list of
    initial primary candidates have the requisite number of
    females.  Salazar of the HR Ombudsman's Office said that the
    TE could - and should - take action to restrict the subsidies
    received by political parties, part of which was earmarked to
    create incentives to encourage women to become involved in
    politics, until they complied.  However, she expected the TE
    to take no action, because they had in the past looked the
    other way when parties subverted this rule by loading up long
    primary lists with women who had no chance of winning a
    primary election slot.  (NOTE:  The HR Ombudsman's Office has
    no enforcement power, but exercises its "moral authority."

    ¶4.  (U) The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the
    constitutionality of this phrase.  Attorney General Ana
    Matilda Gomez on August 13 asked the Supreme Court to declare
    this phrase constitutional, on the basis that this is a
    positive and internationally accepted measure.  She further
    noted that this rule would eradicate traditional barriers
    against female participation and the exercise of political
    power.

    --------------------------------------------- -------
    Sodomy Decriminalized; Homosexuality a "Grave Fault"
    --------------------------------------------- -------

    ¶5.  (U) Sodomy was decriminalized by an Executive decree on
    August 1, to little notice other than short articles in the
    mainstream press.  The reason given for this action was
    complaints from homosexual rights groups.

    ¶6.  (SBU) The internal regulations of the Panamanian National
    Police (PNP) still described homosexuality as a "grave
    fault," which was punishable by dismissal or no more than 60
    days in jail, President of the Association of New Men and
    Women of Panama (AHMNP) Ricardo Beteta told POLOFF on June 5.
    AHMNP lobbies the government on homosexual rights.  Judging
    by the comments of the Minister of Government and Justice,
    Daniel Delgado Diamante, this is unlikely to change.  In an
    interview on April 6, Delgado declared, "as long as I am in
    this job, gays will not be permitted" in the police, and on
    April 10 he said that "I cannot imagine a homosexual police
    officer."  Beteta also reported individuals being stopped and
    harassed by PNP officers due to their supposed homosexual
    appearance.

    ¶7.  (SBU) In the area of health care, Beteta reported that
    authorities had prevented his organization from distributing
    condoms on the parade route during annual Carnival events and
    had forced them to the margins of the event. Additionally,
    medical privacy was generally not respected for persons with
    HIV/AIDS, according to Orlando Quintero, Director of
    Probidsida, a NGO that provides services to persons living
    with HIV/AIDS, POLOFF learned on June 6.  Additionally,
    although pre-employment HIV testing was prohibited in Panama,
    this law was not always followed, according to Quintero.

    -------------------------
    Persons with Disabilities
    -------------------------

    ¶8.  (SBU) Little has changed in the past year for most people
    with disabilities, Maria Claudia Garcia of the HR Ombudsman's
    Office of Disabled Persons told POLOFF on July 8.  Although
    Panamanian law prohibits discrimination and in fact
    guarantees a host of rights, substantial discrimination
    exists in employment and public schools. Most public schools
    did not comply with the law requiring equal access to public
    education, citing the high cost and lack of adequate funds
    needed to offer sufficient services.

    ¶9.  (SBU) Garcia personally intervenes when the Ombudsman's
    Office receives any kind of complaint, and she claims that
    employers are often willing to make accommodations that woul
    permit a disabled person to work, but they usually make the
    accommodations over a long period of time, due to cost.  The
    Ombudsman produces educational materials about the kinds of
    disability and the rights of disabled persons and distributes
    them at public events throughout Panama.

    ¶10. (SBU) SENADIS, the government agency charged with
    integrating and coordinating the efforts of government
    agencies on behalf of people with disabilities, is largely
    ineffective, Fanny Wong, disability activist and Latin
    American coordinator for the Christian Fraternity of Sick and
    Disabled Persons, told POLOFF on August 14. SENADIS is
    largely staffed by family members of disabled persons who
    lack necessary expertise. For example, she noted that
    although SENADIS is charged with making public areas
    accessible, in accordance with Panamanian law, they have no
    architects or city planners on staff and thus the ramps built
    are often too narrow, or too steep, or placed where they are
    inaccessible to persons using wheelchairs.  SENADIS focuses
    its attentions on children and equal education, and ignores
    the needs of disabled adults, which is due to the fact that
    President Torrijos has a developmentally disabled daughter,
    according to Wong.
    STEPHENSON

`