José Antonio Sossa
José Antonio Sossa is a
Clashes with journalists
Sossa had several conflicts with the press, particularly the opposition newspaper La Prensa. In 2000, he filed a criminal complaint for defamation against four Prensa journalists: Peruvian investigative journalist Gustavo Gorriti, business editor Miren Gutiérrez Almazor, and journalists Monica Palm and Rolando Rodriguez. The complaint cited a series of stories the paper published in 1999 reporting that a drug trafficker had donated to one of Sossa's political campaigns.[2] In August, Sossa ordered police to the homes of the four journalists to compel them to come to court to testify.[1]
In May, he attempted to jail El Siglo reporter Carlos Singares for alleging that he had pressured journalists, but reversed himself after criticism by President Moscoso; the following month, he did jail Singares for eight days without trial for reporting in an article that Sossa had visited underage prostitutes.[1][3] In December, he barred journalists from investigating buried human remains at a military barracks, but was again overruled by Moscoso.[1]
In 2004, Sossa filed another defamation complaint against Prensa founder
References
- ^ a b c d "Panama". The Committee to Protect Journalists. 2000. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ^ "Police surround homes of three journalists charged with criminal defamation". International Freedom of Expression Exchange. August 9, 2000. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ "Bad News: Panama Determined to Squelch Press Freedom". The Houston Chronicle. August 9, 2000. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-521-70070-2.
- ^ "Journalist forced to submit to questioning in criminal defamation case". The Committee to Protect Journalists. March 24, 2004. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.