politics

Coup anniversary prompts protests

Relatives of people who were killed during the military regime want the cases reopened.

la prensa

The military coup took place in 1968.1101450

On the eve of 40th birthday of the military coup of October 11, 1968, leaders of the opposition Partido Panameñista are demanding that the government investigate more than 100 crimes committed during the military dictatorship.

The country's period of military rule began when a group of National Guardsmen overthrew then-president Arnulfo Arias. It lasted until December 1989, when the American military invaded the country and arrested Manuel Noriega.

On the anniversary of the military coup, Panameñista officials are demanding that the Attorney General's Office reopen investigations into crimes committed by the military, saying that they should not go unpunished.

The Commission for Truth was established shortly after the military regime was deposed, but many critics have said that it was not effective in bringing those who committed crimes during that time to justice.

“There is a clamor among the public that the Attorney General's Office should revive its role of investigating and prosecuting these crimes,” said Dionisio De Gracia, a member of the party.

Panameñistas officials pointed to recent decisions handed down against Panama by international human rights courts as evidence that more investigations are needed of the military's crimes.

Yesterday, members of the Comité de Familiares de Desaparecidos de Panamá also demanded that the crimes be further investigated. The group gathered in Plaza Porras to remember their slain family members. In the plaza there were white crosses and pictures of the victims on display.

Conrado Sanjur, an advisor to the committee, said that the judicial system seems willing to let these cases expire, even though international courts have ruled that there is no deadline for prosecuting crimes of this nature. He also said that President Martín Torrijos should acknowledge, as head of state, the terrible violations that his father, Omar Torrijos, committed during his dictatorial rule.

The president should also ask the forgiveness of the victims' families, Sanjur said.