Panama: Information on treatment of opposition party workers (July - December 1989)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAN3486 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Panama: Information on treatment of opposition party workers (July - December 1989), 1 January 1990, PAN3486, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab1b90.html [accessed 21 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Shortly after the annulment of the 7 May presidential elections, Amnesty International documented the human rights abuses in connection with the election. Most human rights abuses were committed by the paramilitary squads known as "Batallones de la Dignidad" [Panama: Human Rights Abuses in Connection with 7 May Elections, (Amnesty International, London, June 1989, AI Index: AMR 44/05/89.)]. According to the same source, "Official forces are reported to have been responsible for a series of human rights violations, including unprovoked attacks, arbitrary arrests and possible disappearances and extrajudicial executions of supporters of the opposition political alliance, the Alianza Democrática de Oposición Civilista [ADOC]..." [Ibid, p.2.]
The Economist summarized the treatment of opposition parties indicating that "On May 24th the opposition organized a march to the OAS delegation's hotel. But the opposition's leaders - in jail, in exile, or intimidated - are mostly afraid to call supporters on to the streets. The government banned political protest for the duration of the OAS visit, and the ban was largely obeyed." [The Economist, May 27 1989, p. 42. See also "Noriega Celebrates", Newsweek, May 29, 1989, p.47.]
In August, several incidents were reported against opposition members. After university students demonstrations, the opposition ADOC was accused in the press of inciting the student uprisings. ["ADOC, U.S. Blamed for Student Uprising", Critica, Aug. 7, 89, p. 7, as reported in Daily Report (FBIS, August 9, 1989) p. 22.] Several opposition members were purportedly detained ["Authorities Arrests Four Opposition Members", DPA, 13 August 89, Daily Report (FBIS, 14 August 1989), p. 40.; "Opposition Leader Brenes Detained", Acan, 12 Aug. 1989, Daily Report, (FBIS, 14 August 1989), p. 40; "Opposition Members Reportedly Detained in Colon", ACAN, 14 August 1989, Daily Report, (FBIS, August 15, 1989).].
In the weeks following the failed October coup attempt ["Noriega Still in Charge", Central America Report, October 5, 1989, p.1.], and during November and December, there were several reports of political opponents being detained [See attached excerpts of Daily Reports, October, November and December.]. On 13 November, a report on Radio Impacto listed the names of dozens of 'political detainees' ["Radio Lists Names of Political Detainees", Radio Impacto, San Jose, Costa Rica, as reported in Daily Report, (FBIS, November 13, 1989) p. 48.]. Furthermore, as recently as 15 December, it was reported that an envoy of the European Community was seeking the release of "... 22 Panamanians arrested for political reasons over the last few months." ["EC Envoys Seek Political Prisoners' Release", ACAN, Dec. 14, 1989, as reported in Daily Report, (FBIS, Dec 15, 1989), p. 25.]
