Panama president wanted to wiretap rivals - WikiLeaks

[Judi Lynn]

Panama president wanted to wiretap rivals - WikiLeaks
37 mins ago

Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli tried to bully the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to turn its wiretapping program on political rivals, a State Department cable released by WikiLeaks said.

Martinelli, a supermarket tycoon elected last year, sent a "cryptic" message to the U.S. ambassador in Panama which said, "I need help with tapping phones," according to the cable from August 2009 published by Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"He made reference to various groups and individuals whom he believes should be wiretapped, and he clearly made no distinction between legitimate security targets and political enemies," the cable written by then Ambassador Barbara Stephenson said.

When the ambassador refused, Martinelli complained she was being "too legal" and made an implicit threat to stop helping the U.S. government with anti-narcotics operations in Panama if he could not get help with wiretaps, the cable said.

More:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101225/tpl-uk-wikileaks-panama-43a8d4f.html

[Peace Patriot]

1. See my response (Comment #2) here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4673196

We should be careful to look for agendas and ass-covering in these cables.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Panama's president denies he asked US for phone taps

Panama's president denies he asked US for phone taps
By Associated Press
8:50 p.m. EST, December 25, 2010

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli denied Saturday that he asked the United States to help install phone taps on his political opponents, but acknowledged a request for help against criminals and organized crime figures.

A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable from Aug. 22, 2009 quotes then-U.S. ambassador Barbara Stephenson as saying the newly elected conservative president asked for help with wiretaps soon after he took office on July 1.

One of Martinelli's top officials later told a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official the taps would be aimed at possible attempts by leftist governments in the region to interfere in Panamanian politics, and people targeted by anti-corruption or anti-drug campaigns.

The memo published by the Spanish newspaper El Pais said Stephenson thought Martinelli was not making a distinction between legitimate security targets and political opponents.

More:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-lt-wikileaks-panama-phone-taps,0,7458979.story