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A Refuge for Children That Became a "Hell Hole"; Possible Link to Cult


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A  refuge that became a children’s hell hole

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Posted 14/08/2020

A report dealing with what are described as terrifying stories of alleged abuse of children and adolescents allegedly abused at a shelter that was run by various foundations and subsidized by the state, where vulnerable children and adolescents are supposed to be protected, was a place of mistreatment, torture, and abuse.

The report on  Comprehensive Care Center, in Tocumen, was with the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents, and the Family (Senniaf) since the beginning of 2019  but , it took more than a year for a complaint to be filed with the Public Ministry in July 2020.

Anomalies
The last director of the hostel, Xenia Medina, told La Prensa that when they started running the site in April 2019, they presented a report of the first 45 days of management to the then director of Senniaf, Jazmín Cárdenas, in which s they detailed anomalies, such as the use of handcuffs to control children with disabilities,  children sleeping on the floor because beds were broken,  girls  who with venereal diseases who left the center and roamed the streets whose absences went unreported, a punishment room  called “the area” with no windows, beds or lights, where children were locked in, 60% of the children on expired psychiatric, drugs without a prescription that were, out of date medical records   and inappropriately  dressed teenage girls taken to an adult Christmas party by a  private contractor providing “training services”

Sara Rodríguez, director of the Senniaf, said she did not know the reasons why her predecessor did not file a complaint, but in her case she said  they collected information and presented a complaint to the Public Ministry, which was expanded on Wednesday

For reasons still unknown, Senniaf transferred the administration of the shelter to the Fundación Chilibre Panamá in April 2019 and it was renamed the Centro de Attention Integral Fundación Chilibre Panamá. Xenia Medina was appointed.director.

Medina told La Prensa that, in addition to the January 2020 report, in May 2019 they sent the first document to Jazmín Cárdenas the  then director of Senniaf, after a management audit of the first 45 days at the shelter.

Medina stressed that the Fundación Chilibre Panamá, which managed the place between April 2019 and July 2020, complied with delivering the reports of the anomalies to both the former director of the Senniaf and the current Secretary-General, Sara Rodríguez.

"We made the previous and current Senniaf administration aware of the irregular situation, of what happened before we took over the administration in April 2019," she said..

There was also a "leak history" of adolescents, especially women, not reported to Senniaf. A group of between 8 and 10 adolescents had a habit of leaving the home and wandering the streets.

Former administrator Roberto Charles, who at his discretion did an "individual" search did not report the facts to the authorities. "Escaped adolescents returned with vaginal infections."

According to the document "there was never a formal written agreement" between the Fundación Chilibre Panamá and Aguilar & Asociados, for adolescents at risk to go to professional practices at the firm, which is dedicated to the service of "collections and sales".

The breaking point between the administrators of the shelter and the company came last December when four teenagers who were invited to  Christmas party at night, without notifying the shelter.

“It had not received a formal invitation to accompany them, from the Aguilar & Asociados company,  nor had it received authorization from Senniaf for such an event; in addition, it was a party for adults, ”says the report.

The teenagers with clothes that were not appropriate for their age and with which they showed their chest and legs too much. “We have to be aware that they are adolescents at social risk and victims of sexual abuse. We can't be exposing them, ”it  says.

: ". Farida Rincón, general manager of Grupo Aguilar & Asociado, has been feeding the heads of the four teenagers of false hope, by promising that she will fulfill their dreams."

Sara Rodríguez, the current secretary of Senniaf, said she filed a complaint at the end of July with the Public Ministry, and now the case is in the Family Prosecutor's Office. On Wednesday they made an extension of the complaint, which included the incidents that occurred with Rincón.

On  August 3, the Public Ministry ordered Senniaf to take over the shelter and also decided that the foundation that administered it, Fundación Chilibre Panamá, should leave the place.

Now, the State, through Senniaf and Mides, has to guarantee this vulnerable population what it could not get for a decade: security, well-being, and respect for their human rights.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/a-refuge-that-became-a-childrens-hell-hole

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OPINION Panama's dark “guardianship” scandal

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Posted 14/08/2020

French Philosopher Michel Foucault criticized disciplinary institutions for being mechanisms to impose order at the end of punishment, fear, and the supposed reward, to people who in asylums, orphanages, prisons, schools, and psychiatric hospitals,  who are at the mercy of authority. The tragedy of the shelter in Tocumen evokes the dark passages denounced by Foucault. The State abandoned its obligation to protect the minors who are under its “guardianship”.

It left them in perverse and depraved hands, without technical knowledge or auditing of what was happening behind closed doors. Girls and young adolescents suffered worse acts than those that caused their hospitalization, while children and adolescents with disabilities or other conditions were sedated and handcuffed.

There are no words to describe the enormous damage caused to the soul and body of these minors by the neglect of the State.

This cannot be another morbid scandal, that that bureaucracy, drowns in oblivion. What happened in this shelter forces us to review all the similar enclosures, and to reconsider once and for all that negligence and corruption are not tolerable. - LA PRENSA, Aug 14

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-panamaampampamp039s-dark-guardianship-scandal-1

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Endangered girls housed with addicted adults

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Posted 15/08/2020

While a Public Ministry investigation is underway into alleged abuse of children in a Tocumen shelter under the direction of the Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family (Senniaf) new revelations have surfaced about another hostel in Veraguas where some 10 girls and adolescents were sent to an adult shelter that housed women with drug and psychiatric problems did not have staff or conditions suited to children.

The Amor de Damas Refuge is under the administration of the Only a Matter of Faith Foundation, led by Pastor Dorian Mena who said they had warned Senniaf that the place was no suitable for children.

 In  May, a group of minors escaped from the shelter and told neighbors and National Police authorities that they fled due to alleged abuse.

The anomalies regarding possible violation of the human rights of girls, boys and adolescents generated investigations at the judicial and administrative level, which are currently ongoing reports La Prensa.

Mena, told La Prensa that the National Secretariat for Children and Adolescents (Senniaf) took the minors to the place. "The Senniaf, during this pandemic, had nowhere to keep them and approached our office in Veraguas and temporarily brought them, while they were located in other places," he said.

According to the pastor, they were girls at social risk. He acknowledged that several of the adolescents escaped and that some were in the hands of the National Police.

Regarding the bruises and scratches that some of the minors allegedly presented, he indicated that it was the result of fights between themselves. "We are not in the habit of mistreating," said Mena, who is aware that the Public Ministry is conducting an investigation into the events.

Asked why they accepted if they were aware that their facilities were not suitable he said: “They [Senniaf] knew that the center was not suitable for that and even so they decided to leave them [to the minors]. After this, we do not house any more minors.”,

Idania Fernández, from the Senniaf technical secretariat, said that in the face of Covid-19, they have had to "find spaces" for the care of children and adolescents, since many shelters are closed.

The National Police  finally removed the girls and adolescents from the shelter on May 18

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/endangered-girls-housed-with-addicted-adults

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NGOs condemn children’s rights abuse  in shelters

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Jennie Barb

Posted 16/08/2020

Three   leading Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)have condemned alleged violations of the human rights of children and adolescents in shelters in Tocumen, Panama, and Santiago, Veraguas, revealed this week.

The United Foundation for Children, the  Panama Network for Children and Adolescents and the Panamanian Association for Family Planning (Aplafa) say that  the State is not fulfilling its role as an inspector or guaranteeing that the protocols for the care of this vulnerable population are met,

According to Jennie Barb, president of the United for Children Foundation, the state turned its back on children. In 2012, Barb drew up a protocol for care in shelters that, she says, is not being followed.

Roderick Chaverri, vice president of the Children's Network, believes that the rules regulating  shelters should be revised

This year, the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents, and the Family (Senniaf) closed three shelters for irregularities, out of a total of 55 that serve children and adolescents at social risk and who are under its supervision.

During the week, alleged apparent physical and emotional abuse of minors. were revealed at the Amor de Damas shelter, in Veraguas, and at the Centro Integral Fundación Chilibre Panamá, in Tocumen.

The three NGOs say  that the State, through the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) and the Senniaf, must reform the regulations that govern the shelters and comply with the protocols established for the care of minors who are there.

Jennie Barb, of the United for Children Foundation, said that in 2012 a protocol for care for children in shelters was drawn up, at the request of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), and was provided to the Senniaf.

The document is a roadmap on how to treat children and adolescents in the reception sites, as Panama is a subscriber to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As part of her fieldwork, Barb visited 11 shelters and found failures in several. "For example, there was a caregiver for 56 children, two children slept in the same bed and some did not have good nutrition," she said.

Barb said that there was training in the use of the protocol so that the care of infants was standardized - even the cook and the drivers of the shelter had to take courses on children's rights.

"The protocol also implied supervision and randomly supplying forms to children so that they could make known what the treatment was like within the site," said the activist, who said she was disappointed by the current reality and invited Senniaf to "dust off" the protocol.

Roderick Chaverri, said that there are shared responsibilities on the issue because the governing body for children is Mides and the coordinating body for the execution of policies is Senniaf.

"In the case of Mides, in addition to providing annual subsidies to shelters, it also approves public policies on childhood, while Senniaf makes sure that these policies are made effective," he explained.

Chaverri considered that it is necessary to update Decree 26 of April 21, 2009, which regulates shelters. Specifically, he suggested rating the degree of compliance, in order to determine if the shelter can continue to operate.

Rossana Uribe, president of Aplafa, said that the changes should be aimed at increasing the presence of suitable Senniaf personnel in the shelters.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ngos-condemn-childrens-rights-abuse-in-shelters

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Child rape investigators seeking links to earlier cult murders

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Susects at the time of their arrest

Posted 18/08/2020

Two men and a woman allegedly linked to a religious cult appeared before guarantees judge, Ana González, on   Tuesday August 18 for the alleged kidnapping of six minors in the community of Guayabal, in the Ngäbe Buglé region.

Those involved were given a tele-hearing to formulate charges One of the men felt unwell and was taken for treatment by the   911 emergency system.

The Public Ministry is represented by the representative of the Ngäbe Buglé region, Azael Tugrí.

On August 15, Security Minister, Juan Pino, confirmed that six minors who were being held by members of an alleged religious sect in the community were rescued. A seventh person had escaped and raised  the alarm

The presumed leader of the sect managed to escape and preliminary data indicates that he took two minors with him.

Investigators are attempting to establish whether the members of this sect are related to the events that occurred in  January in the community of  El Terrón, where seven people were murdered.

Judge González charged the three with carnal rape and child abuse and imposed a precautionary measure of six months in prison for the three involved, while the investigations are expanded.

The First Superior Prosecutor of Chiriquí, Luis Martínez, considers that the child abuse charges are given because according to the first investigations, two of the three rescued minors were physically abused "with all kinds of aggression, they were tied up and hanged, that is confirmed by  Forensic Medicine.

He also said that they were raped, a situation that was exposed by the minors, and confirmed by the forensic medical examinations.

mong the recovered minors there is an infant of 3 to 4 months of age, who, like the others was placed in a shelter for protection. They are also treated by psychologists and specialists.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/child-rape-investigators-seeking-links-to-earlier-cult-murders-1

  • Moderator_02 changed the title to A Refuge for Children That Became a "Hell Hole"
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Menores revelan ‘acoso’ en albergue de adultos al que fueron llevados por Senniaf

La Secretaría de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia envió a unos 11 niños, niñas y adolescentes al Hogar Vida Libre en el área de Las Garzas donde se rehabilita a adultos con adicción a las drogas.
 
Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo
18 ago 2020 - 10:43 PM

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/menores-revelan-acoso-en-albergue-de-adultos-al-que-fueron-llevados-por-senniaf/

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Unos 14 niños, víctimas en albergue de Tocumen

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo
19 ago 2020 - 11:48 PM

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/unos-14-ninos-victimas-en-albergue-de-tocumen/

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‘Las anomalías en albergues para niños no deben quedar impunes’

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo
23 ago 2020 - 12:00 AM

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/las-anomalias-en-albergues-para-ninos-no-deben-quedar-impunes/

  • Moderator_02 changed the title to A Refuge for Children That Became a "Hell Hole"; Possible Link to Cult
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Search continues  for alleged mass graves linked to religious cult

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Posted 31/08/2020

Panama’s National Air Naval Service (Senan)  is searching for alleged mass graves and another suspect in for alleged torture and abuse linked to this a religious sect in the community of Llano Amador, village of Agua de Salud, in the Ngäbe Buglé region.

Civil organizations  have called for rigorous investigation into possible mistreatment in shelters and in region

Senan reported  indicated that it is collaborating with local authorities "to specify and identify other signs that allow the location or existence of alleged mass graves."

The Senan sais that, despite the adverse weather conditions, the units continue permanent patrols, "to obtain the apprehension of the main person responsible" for the events recorded on August 15, the day on which an infant from three months and two children 10 and 14 years old were rescued.

The search actions are carried out in different places in the region such as: Llano Amador, Guayabal, Guabalito, Alto Batata, Piedra Fogón and Agua Salud.

A 17-year-old young man, along with other adults, is already detained for allegedly being part of the religious sect.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/search-continues-for-alleged-mass-graves-linked-to-religious-cult

  • 2 weeks later...
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Second Messiah cult eader suspect caught after 24-day hunt

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Parentsnsent their children to be educated by cult leader

Posted 09/09/2020

After a 24 day search The alleged leader of a religious cult, accused of the deprivation of liberty of several minors in Llano Amador, in the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca, has been captured by agents of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan) and the National Police, says Public Security Minister Juan Pino.

The arrest took place in the Río Totuma sector, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé, after land and flight patrols, carried out in coordination with the county authorities and the Public Ministry.

The arrested man who calls himself "the second messiah" became a fugitive, after being accused of several acts committed against minors and of sowing fear in the indigenous community, in complicity with two other adults and a 17-year-old minor already in custody.

According to the complainants, the suspect exercised control in the community to keep them isolated, prohibited men from working and children from going to school and being vaccinated, and some of them did not have birth records.

After a 24 day search The alleged leader of a religious cult, accused of the deprivation of liberty of several minors in Llano Amador, in the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca, has been captured by agents of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan) and the National Police, says Public Security Minister Juan Pino.

The arrest took place in the Río Totuma sector, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé, after land and flight patrols, carried out in coordination with the county authorities and the Public Ministry.

The arrested man who calls himself "the second messiah" became a fugitive, after being accused of several acts committed against minors and of sowing fear in the indigenous community, in complicity with two other adults and a 17-year-old minor already in custody.

According to the complainants, the suspect exercised control in the community to keep them isolated, prohibited men from working and children from going to school and being vaccinated, and some of them did not have birth records.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/second-messiah-cult-eader-suspect-caught-after-24-day-hunt

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Ministerio Público investiga a 20 personas ligadas a sectas religiosas

Olmedo Rodríguez
14 sep 2020 - 12:00 AM

In junio pasado se inició la investigación a otra agrupación religiosa, en el sector comarcal de Toncrick Arriba, también en Santa Catalina. Tras denuncias de residentes, las autoridades se trasladaron al sitio y fueron aprehendidos cuatro hombres y dos mujeres, señalados como responsables de atentar contra la vida y la libertad de vecinos del lugar a través de supuestos ritos religiosos.

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/ministerio-publico-investiga-a-20-personas-ligadas-a-sectas-religiosas/

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“New Messiah” among three cult members facing homicide charges

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Investigators uncovered grave on Sunday

Posted 18/09/2020

Three people linked to a religious cult will be charged with homicide following the discovery of a clandestine grave in the Ngäbe Buglé region. said The Public Ministry informed on  Friday, September 18.

Last Sunday, personnel from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences exhumed the bones of the grave, located in the Ñurum sector, in the north of the region.

Sources from the Public Ministry said that the grave is related to the religious sect that operated in the Agua de Salud area, Ñurum district and whose alleged leaders are being detained.

It was reported that in thie case of the sect two people who have already been charged with the alleged commission of the crimes of abuse and sexual crimes against minors. And recently a third person who calls himself The New Messiah linked to the events was arrested.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-messiah-among-three-cult-members-facing-homicide-charges

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