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Por que este Blog...?
Cuando comence esta aventura cibernetica y abri el blog lo hice con la intencion de publicar el contenido de mis libros, los articulos de opinion escritos en el diario La Prensa de Panama y en otros medios, algunos textos literarios ineditos y mis links favoritos. Poco a poco, y sin experiencia en esto de construir un sitio en la red, arme "la otra orilla". El nombre se lo puse porque me resulta simbolico en muchos aspectos.
Hoy por hoy me encuentro transplantada en Oriente Medio, en uno de los puntos de conflicto mas candentes y desde aqui quiero dialogar con la otra orilla, con las miles de otras orillas que serpentean por el planeta. Ademas, tengo la extraña sensacion de encontrarme en la otra orilla, cuando miro, desde este balconcito levantino, lo que ocurre en el resto del mundo.
La otra orilla es, tambien, la terca esperanza de paz y justicia que no muere, aun cuando, dia a dia, vemos como se nos resquebraja y derrumba esta tierra que es de todos. La excusa perfecta para construir un puente de palabras y de solidaridad humana.
Gracias por estar aqui...
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WHITE COLLAR GANGSTERS AT PANAMA UNIVERSITY
| WHITE COLLAR GANGSTERS AT PANAMA UNIVERSITY Noriegaville | <><><>
 While the fake diploma and sex trafficking scandal at the University of Panama (UP) deepens, self-proclaimed rector magnificus Gustavo Garcia Paredes and his associates, at the center of the corruption ring, are defending themselves in a way that would be best described as "white collar gangsterism."To recoup, the scandal broke when it was discovered that the rector had signed diplomas for students that had never done the required courses at the University, an irregularity that was denounced and reported by law professor Miguel Antonio Bernal. The attorney general launched an investigation and the rector quickly launched his own "internal investigation" but saw his request to dismiss the probe by the public ministry quashed by the supreme court. The corruption ring, which consists of various persons in and outside the UDP, appears to be well-connected with figures such as Hector Aleman (Minister of Government & Justice) and lawyer Carlos Jones, who is known for his representation of Marc Harris and his superb "connections" within the public ministry and the supreme court. The rector was of course absolved in his own investigation of any wrongdoing, the scandal was downplayed and it was for example stated that the student who had received the fake diploma had never used it as it had not been issued. But things started to go wrong for Garcia Paredes. It turned out that the student had received his diploma after all and even used it to get into grad school at a private university. More fake diplomas then originally was stated appear to have been issued. Followed revelations about yet another corrupt activity perpetrated by the same ring of UP officials; foreign sex workers are being inscribed for a fee so that they can get residency in Panama - a scheme that is being run in cooperation with corrupt employees of the Immigration Service which, by the way, resorts under the ministry of aforementioned Hector Aleman. The corrupt rector magnificus, facing an ongoing investigation by the public ministry and his reputation in tatters after national and international publications about his shadowy activities, then launched an investigation into Miguel Antonio Bernal's academic credentials. That effort immediately backfired when former UDP professor Federico Ardila publicly questioned the rector's own credentials. The rector obtained his doctorate only one year after graduating, which in Panama is impossible. The only qualification, or so it appears, that Gustavo Garcia Paredes holds is to be an expert at corruption. Corrupto has full support from the Torrijos government Most con men start acting strangely when driven into a corner and the rector is no exception. Using the obscure new university law that the ruling PRD, of which he is a prominent member, whisked through the National Assembly, he managed to get the Academic Council to adopt a resolution that, believe it or not, declares Miguel Antonio Bernal a "persona non grata" at the University of Panama because they consider denouncing corruption "disrespectful" of the rector who is, after all, no less than magnificus. This bizarre move - we would really like to see the liquor bill for the meeting where the resolution was adopted - has of course been quickly denounced by prominent publicists and activists as well as El Salvador based anti-corruption organization Probidad, so far without results however. From the side of the government, despite all the zero-corruption hype, there has been nothing but a deafening silence on the subject. The reputation of the University of Panama, once highly regarded in Latin America, is quickly deteriorating as a result of crooks and con men having free reign at the campus. |