Nationalists rally as U.S. drug case threatens to close Panama's oldest newspaper
Nationalists rally as U.S. drug case threatens to close Panama's oldest newspaper
La Estrella de Panamá, the third-oldest newspaper in Latin America, is in danger of going out of business after the U.S. government listed its owner as an alleged drug money launderer.
Por: Nicanor Alvarado David Adams
Publicado: ene 11, 2017 | 11:01 AM EST
PANAMA CITY, Panama – A legal battle over the fate of a 168-year-old newspaper has revived anti-American sentiments in a country that the U.S. military invaded just 27 years ago to remove military dictator Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega from power.
La Estrella de Panamá and its younger sibling El Siglo announced last week they would cease publication because of drug money laundering sanctions imposed eight months ago by the U.S. Treasury Department against its principal owner, a wealthy duty free Lebanese-born, Panamanian-Colombian businessman, Abdul Waked.
The sanctions affected the newspapers' ability to do business with American companies, it said, undercutting its ability to function.
But less than 12 hours before last Friday's deadline, the Treasury Department issued the newspapers a new extension - the third since May - giving them until July to find a solution.
More:
http://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/nationalists-rally-as-us-drug-case-threatens-to-close-panamas-oldest-newspaper
