There were allegations of ill-treatment of detainees. New legal proceedings were initiated against a former military leader and six of his closest supporters. There were widespread strikes and protests in August against the policies of the government of President Ernesto Pérez Balladares. Some of the protests became violent, and by the end of August, four workers had reportedly been killed, an unknown number injured, and over 300 protesters detained for short periods. In September President Pérez announced a further pardon for people associated with General Manuel Noriega's administration (see Amnesty International Report 1995). Another 130 people were pardoned on the grounds that the time they had spent in prison, or with proceedings pending against them, exceeded the maximum sentence if convicted. Many had been charged with crimes such as corruption. However, the Attorney General filed a writ claiming the pardons were unconstitutional. There were allegations of ill-treatment of detainees. Twelve detainees arrested during the August demonstrations were reportedly beaten and denied medical care. Magistrates in the province of Chiriquí reportedly punished Guayamí men, women and children involved in land claims or accused of petty misdemeanours or failure to pay fines, by binding them to stocks for periods of up to five days. Higher authorities in Chiriquí were apparently aware of the practice but did nothing to stop it. In April, nine Guayamís, including a 12-year-old boy and a pregnant woman, were briefly arrested without warrant during a demonstration against incursions by mining companies. The detainees complained that legal proceedings against them were not completed within the time limits specified by Panamanian law, that they were held incommunicado, and that habeas corpus petitions were not acted on. Former Panamanian Defense Forces chief General Noriega, already convicted in absentia of murder (see Amnesty International Reports 1990 and 1995), was charged with responsibility for the extrajudicial executions of 12 soldiers who participated in a 1989 coup attempt. Also charged were six of his closest associates. In response to queries from Amnesty International about irregularities in the case of the Guayamís arrested in April, the government announced an inquiry into the land dispute.

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