Moscoso decides against suing two local legislators
Former Panamanian President Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriguez has told the Republic of China's envoy to Panama that she has decided not to sue three Taiwanese for libel.

People First Party legislative leader Liu Wen-hsiung and his PFP colleague Tsay Chung-han alleged Tuesday that Moscoso received a US$1 million birthday present from President Chen Shui-bian as "hush money" after he made sexual advances toward her.

The former president was furious after receiving a phone call from former Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Harmodio Arias about the allegations and said at the time that she would sue the lawmakers and a talk radio host for ruining her reputation.

But Moscoso on Friday told R.O.C. Ambassador to Panama, David Hu via Arias that she had decided not to sue and will make a declaration of legal oath as proof for anyone who continues to believe the false claims. The declaration will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ambassador said the same day that Arias also told him that after consulting with her lawyer, the former president found that it would be impossible for her to sue the Taiwanese from Panama.

When asked about his reaction to Moscoso's decision, Liu yesterday maintained that he has "nothing to do with the case." "I don't know whom she wanted to sue from the beginning. I have nothing to do with the case," Liu said.

Liu said that Panamanian authorities' investigation into the case is urgent, and Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs should closely cooperate with Panama on the matter.

With the rumors' of impropriety circulating in Taiwan and Panama, Jose Antonio Sossa, Panama's chief prosecutor has decided to launch a probe to determine whether the Moscoso administration misused any donations from Taiwan.

Sossa is conducting a separate investigation into allegations involving a US$45 million fund provided by Taiwan to a private foundation set up by the Moscoso government.

The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the government has no comment on the case, as it is now in the legal process. Taiwan would provide relevant information if asked, once the requests are made by the Panamanian authorities through the official diplomatic channels, the ministry said.

The R.O.C. Embassy in Panama released a statement Thursday, saying that President Chen will sue two PFP lawmakers and the a television talk show host for making the allegations.

Hu also said that on behalf of the president government of Taiwan, he has asked Arias to convey to Moscoso his regrets about the groundless allegations.

In the wake of the rash of scandals over Taiwan's involvement with Latin American nations, including Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Liu yesterday said that the PFP will seek to freeze the MOFA's secret budget for foreign aid, if the ministry fails to provide details of allocations and implementation of funds over the past five years.

Meanwhile, the foreign aid budget had been passed in the Legislature's foreign affairs committee and is awaiting further review. One of the committee members, Kuomintang Legislator Bill Sun, suggested that the Moscoso case might be linked to internal power struggles in Panama and Taiwanese legislators should avoid associating with it.

PFP chairman James Soong yesterday said that the DPP's decision to sue two PFP lawmakers over the issue was aimed at shifting public attention from allegations related to the Presidential Office.

Soong further urged the public to vote for the "pan-blue alliance" in the December legislative election so that there could be stricter supervision of the ruling party.
 

Autonomy is at risk, OAS rights panel says
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has issued an unusual statement condemning a restructuring of the Organization of American States as detrimental to the commission's political autonomy.

''The new structure designed by the secretary general of the OAS affects its independence and autonomy,'' the commission said in a statement late Thursday.

The commission used to report directly to former OAS Secretary General César Gaviria, who gave the institution broad operational leeway on personnel and budgetary decisions. He also protected commission staff when ambassadors complained of a negative human rights report, a sore point for several countries.

But Gaviria's successor, Miguel Angel Rodríguez, announced last month a restructuring in which the commission will report to a still-unnamed head of a department of human rights affairs -- a political appointee who also would oversee commissions on children's and women's issues.

''Our autonomy is under serious threat,'' Santiago Cantón, executive secretary of the commission, told The Herald.

The new director of human rights affairs would set budgets and oversee staffing decisions, a key concern for the commission.

''In addition to its complete independence, the [commission] relies upon autonomy that is demonstrated in the management of its human and budgetary resources,'' the commission's statement said.

Rodríguez resigned Oct. 15 amid a corruption scandal in his native Costa Rica after being on the job for two weeks. However, the executive order stands, Cantón said.

In the past, Venezuela has complained that the commission has issued biased statements and reports on that country and has sought to have some of its top functionaries fired.

Acting Secretary General Luigi Einaudi has said he supports the principle of autonomy and would review the order, according to Cantón.

Most countries agree that restructuring is needed in the OAS, which faces a budget shortfall of about $5 million, according to a report Rodríguez had presented. He cut the number of departments and institutions that reported to him from 20 to nine and saved $2 million by cutting some high-paying jobs.

The commission monitors human rights violations among the 34 member countries, and holds hearings on cases that can lead to reparations payments to victims or a referral to the Inter-American Human Rights Court in San José, Costa Rica.

Colombia to extradite rebel leader to US
The Colombian government is prepared to extradite guerrilla leader Ricardo Palmera to the United States in a move that could intensify internal strife, the El Espectador weekly magazine reported Saturday.

The magazine said the "legal and political decision" could be interpreted as "a show of force" of President Alvaro Uribe toward the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group.

According to the magazine, Palmera's extradition will strengthen the "political confrontation" between the government and the FARC.

Palmera is wanted in the United States on drug and hostage-taking charges, said El Espectador.

A US extradition request also cited the February 2003 crash of a light plane carrying four US contractors and a Colombian national.

Palmera also faces 60 charges in Colombia, including the kidnapping and murder of former Minister of Culture Consuelo Araujo and US engineer Thomas Pescatore.

The FARC leader, who used to be an economist and banker, was captured on Jan. 2 in Ecuador, and deported days later to Colombia. He is held in a maximum security prison.
 

Peru, Colombia sign cooperation agreements
Peru and Colombia have ratified their good relations as strategic partners by signing a series of agreements, local news agency Andina reported Saturday.

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo and his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, signed here Friday night a joint declaration to combat corruption, drug trafficking and terrorism, and to shore up bilateral commercial ties.

In addition, Toledo and Uribe reaffirmed the will to strengthen democratic institutions, governance, the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, and the standardization of the assessment of defense spending in the region.

A memorandum of understanding to strengthen democracy and combat corruption, and an agreement on modifying the Boliviarian Extradition Covenant were also signed.

Uribe arrived here Friday for a two-day visit.