Sunday, January 16, 2011

Abuses by Panama Immigration Directors reach Inter-American Courts

Abuses by Panama Immigration Directors against migrants now have resulted in a decision against the Republic of Panama by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Ecuadorian citizen Jesús Vélez Loor entered Panama in November 2002, when he was detained by the National Police border post in Tupiza, Darien. A detention order was issued by the then Director of Immigration - at the time Ilka de Barés, unnamed in the decision - and Vélez was mixed with the criminal population at La Palma jail. This was the 2nd time Vélez entered Panama without a permit, so he was convicted without due process under an administrative order to 2 years of imprisonment at La Joyita Detention Center.

Why are Panama taxpayers saddled with having to pay the penalties ordered against the Republic for abuses by unelected public officials ?





UPDATES FROM THE REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS UPDATES FROM THE REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS

Inter-American court of human rights rules against Panama for torture and wrongful detention of Ecuadorian migrant



In November 2010, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Court) ruled against Panama in its first case addressing the vulnerability of irregular and undocumented migrants. The decision in Vélez Loor v. Panama came seven years after the Court issued an advisory opinion on the rights of undocumented migrants. The opinion concluded that all migrants, irrespective of migratory status, must be guaranteed due process of law and full “enjoyment and exercise of human rights.” The advisory opinion also stipulated that states must affirmatively act to avoid limiting or infringing on the fundamental rights of migrants.



In November 2002, Panamanian police arrested Jesús Vélez Loor, an Ecuadorian national, for entering the country without appropriate documentation. He was subsequently transferred to a detention facility and sentenced, without legal representation or awareness of the proceedings against him, to two years imprisonment for entering Panama illegally multiple times. Vélez Loor testified to the Court that while imprisoned, he was subjected to tear gas, burns, sexual abuse, and beatings resulting in a cracked skull. Desperate to ameliorate his situation, Vélez Loor started a hunger strike and partially sewed his mouth shut. After Vélez Loor had endured deplorable conditions and abusive treatment for ten months, the Ecuadorian Consulate and Panamanian immigration authorities arranged his deportation, sending him back to Ecuador in September 2003. Although he reported his torture and the Panamanian Office of Foreign Affairs initiated an investigation, Panama made no further efforts to investigate Vélez Loor’s abuse. Vélez Loor, still suffering medical and psychological trauma as a result of his torture and prolonged detention, continues to speak out about the severe violation of his rights in the hopes that what happened to him “never happens to anyone else again.” More information on his story can be found on his blog at http://jessloor.wordpress.com//.



In Vélez Loor, the Court found that Panama violated the petitioner’s rights to humane treatment (Article 5), personal liberty (Article 7), judicial protection (Article 25), and fair trial (Article 8) under the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights (Convention). It also found that Panama violated Vélez Loor’s rights under the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture. Additionally, the Court ruled that Article 67 of Panama’s 1960 Decree Law No. 16, which allows punitive sanctions for violations of migration laws, is incompatible with the Convention when used as a basis for arbitrary incarceration. Rather, the Court held that states should only detain migrants sparingly and on an exceptional basis, for the shortest time and least restrictive means possible. Moreover, if an administrative body orders detention, a judge or tribunal must be able to review the decision and the detained migrant must be able to contact and receive help from his country’s consulate.



The decision indicates the Inter- American System’s intolerance of discriminatory, abusive, and punitive treatment of undocumented migrants as part of states’ broader attempts to curb illegal migration. With more than 214 million migrants worldwide and estimates of upwards of 400 million in the year 2050, increased attention to treatment of migrants and reform of broken immigration systems will be crucial. In Vélez Loor, the Court ordered Panama to pay monetary reparations to Vélez Loor, further investigate his allegations of torture, implement capacity- building measures for officials to enhance the investigation of torture claims, and provide appropriate detention facilities for those migrants it determines require state custody.


Full text in http://www.wcl.american.edu/hrbrief/18/3hrsystems.pdf?rd=1



Friday, January 07, 2011

Panama and Qatar Sign Tax Agreement

After many announcements and press releases, the Qatar refinery in Panama has not broken ground yet. At least they signed a double taxation agreement...



HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Panama President Ricardo Martinelli witnessing
the signing of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion
with respect to taxes on income and the protocol between the governments of the two countries in New York.

www.gulftimes.com

See also:

Panamá y Qatar firman tratado para evitar la doble tributación
Qatar and Panama sign agreement



Panama and Cyprus Discuss Tax Agreement

Panama and Cyprus are both countries which rely heavily on maritime logistics, banking center and tourism.




Meeting of President Christofias with the President of Panama
23/09/2010

The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias had a meeting, yesterday, with the President of Panama Mr Ricardo Martinelli.

Present at the meeting was also the Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou, the Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael and the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President, Ambassador Leonidas Pantelides.

After the meeting President Christofias made the following statement:

"I had a very cordial and friendly meeting with the President of Panama, which he requested. Panama is a friendly country to Cyprus, we are together at the Non – Aligned Movement for several years, with a very firm position on Cyprus issue. Of course, the President has reaffirmed his position that Panama stands by Cyprus in its effort to reunite the country and implement the international law and the UN Resolutions on Cyprus.

Moreover, we talked about the need to expand bilateral relations between the two countries. Agreements are underway about the avoidance of double taxation and, also, the abolition of visas in both countries. We also talked about the need to develop economic relations between the two countries. The distance is great and this is the only problem, but I believe that there is enough that connects us, which we should take into consideration."

Asked if the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries for shipping issues were discussed, the President of the Republic said:

"These issues were discussed a few times, they are on the agenda too, but I repeat, the distance is great. The Government of Panama is doing whatever possible to avert the docking of the ships under Panamanian flag, in Famagusta".
www .presidency.gov. cy

See also:
Panamá y Chipre firmarán tratado para evitar doble tributación
New Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Panama - 03/11/2010



Monday, January 03, 2011

Панама корпорации закона

Панама
Официальное название: Республика Панама
Площадь: 77 000 кв. км.
Численность населения: 32 560 000 чел.
Столица: Панама
Государственный язык: испанский, английский
Денежная единица: бальбоас, доллар США

Общая информация.
Уникальное географическое положение Панамы, занимающей длинный узкий перешеек между Атлантическим и Тихим океанами, издавна делало ее оживленным морским торговым перекрестком. Уже в начале XVI в., вскоре после открытия перешейка Колумбом, конкистадор Бальбоа по заданию испанского короля приступил к поиску соединяющего океаны морского пути. Он вышел через горы и тропическую сельву к тихоокеанскому побережью, но пролива не обнаружил. Безуспешными оказались и последующие попытки. Так что возникший в 1519 г. на месте индейской деревушки город Панама почти 400 лет оставался не межокеанским портом, а сухопутной перевалочной базой для ценностей — прежде всего золота и серебра, отправлявшихся из колоний тихоокеанского побережья Южной Америки в Испанию.

Преимущества:
  • Панама является офшорным центром уже более 75 лет.
  • Нерезидентные компании освобождены от налогообложения.
  • Соблюдается конфиденциальность информации о владельцах, акционерах, директорах.

Законодательство о компаниях
  • General Corporation Law, 1927;
  • Law Regulating Enterprises of Limited Liabilty No. 24.
Тип безналоговой компании Limited Panamian Corporation (LPC) — компания с ограниченной ответственностью, Partnership - товарищество.
Разрешенная деятельность Любая незапрещенная деятельность.
Запрещенная деятельность
  • Вести бизнес с резидентами Панамы, за исключением фирм, предоставляющих юридические, бухгалтерские, банковские, консалтинговые и др. услуги, администрирование трастами и фондами.
  • Владеть недвижимостью на территории юрисдикции. Вести банковскую, страховую, экспедиторскую деятельность без получения специальных лицензий и разрешений.
Налогообложение Полное освобождение SAFI от налогов.
Ежегодные отчисления Лицензионный сбор 600 USD (300 агенту, 300 регистрационному органу).
Валютный контроль Нет.
Соглашения об избежании двойного налогообложения Нет.
Срок и условия регистрации новой компании 10 дней.
Требования к названию компании Возможно любое название, не зарегистрированное в реестре, указывающее на международный бизнес.
Уставный капитал 10 000 USD, разделенный на 100 акций по 100 USD каждая Для Limited Partnership уставный капитал составляет 2000—500 000 USD
Нет требований относительно минимального уставного капитала.
Предложенный уставный капитал Акции без номинальной стоимости и на предъявителя должны оплачиваться полностью. Акции на предъявителя хранятся у агента.
Акции Акции на предъявителя или именные, с номинальной стоимостью или без номинальной стоимости.
Акционеры Минимально — один.
Директора
- количество
- требования
- полномочия

Три директора.
Нет требований к национальности и гражданству.
Требования к собраниям
- директоров
- акционеров
Нет требований к проведению собраний директоров и акционеров.
Зарегистрированный офис Обязательно.
Секретарь
- количество
- требования
- полномочия
Нет требований.
Зарегистрированный агент
Один.
Необходимость
- ведения бухгалтерии
- сдачи годового отчета

Нет.
Нет.
Нет. .
Конфиденциальная информация Сведения о владельцах, директорах, акционерах.



Source: Tax Consulting UK.