Panama granted asylum to the Director of El Universo

Panama President, Ricardo Martinelli announced that he just gave asylum to Carlos Perez Barriga, Director of newspaper El Universo. The official announcement was made via his Twitter account.

“I just gave asylum to journalist of newspaper El Universo, Carlos Perez Barriga, fined with three years in prison and 40 million fine in Ecuador.” – Via @ rmartinelli (Ricardo Martinelli) February 16, 2012.

Carlos Perez remains in Ecuador, where he received the ratification of the judgment that forces him and his brothers to pay 40 million dollars and spend three years in jail after a lawsuit started by the Ecuadorian president, Rafael Correa, due to an opinion article.

Meanwhile Cesar and Nicolas Perez, remain in Miami, USA, in order to show the current situation that the institution and the freedoms are facing in Ecuador. (AV)