cries@mtxinu.COM (10/14/89)
/* Written 3:55 pm Oct 13, 1989 by cries in ni:cries.regionews */
/* ---------- "Panama: Strong man sticks it out" ---------- */
PANAMA: THE STRONG MAN STICKS IT OUT
(cries.regionews from Managua October 13, 1989
"Those involved in the coup have surrendered. General Manuel
Antonio Noriega is in command of the troops of the
Panamanian Defense Forces," announced television channel 2
after a seven hour military rebellion on October 3. By the
next morning, businesses and banks had opened their doors
and life in Panama City was seemingly back to normal.
Judging from the reaction in the United States, however,
pressures and direct attempts to remove Panama's de facto
leader are not over.
In an initial attack that lasted 45 minutes, some 200
soldiers led by Major Moises Giroldi Vera took control of
Panamanian Defense Forces (FDP) headquarters, eventually
trapping Noriega in the small area of his main offices.
"They started the attack towards my building and we stayed
there from eight in the morning until 11:45 under very heavy
fire," Noriega told the press days after the rebellion.
At one point during the morning's confusion and uncertainty,
the rebels read a communique over the official National
Radio: "For the well-being of the country, from this date on
the authority of all current military officials will not be
recognized. This includes General Manuel Antonio Noriega."
The broadcast was cut off abruptly, and before noon, the
compound was surrounded by 800 elite loyalist troops. Smoke
was soon billowing up into the sky from the ensuing battle.
When the smoke cleared, at least six were dead (other
reports range as high as 77), several wounded, dozens of
soldiers arrested, and a cocky Noriega was denouncing US
intervention. "They were going to depose the President of
the Republic, get to [opposition presidential aspirant]
Guillermo Endara early enough put him on ice, and later on
put him in the presidency. But they screwed themselves." The
Panamanian "strong man" remained in control.
Noriega then accused US officials of being hypocrites
because "they were involved in the coup and now deny their
participation."
US Involvement
"The US is not involved in these events," State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher claimed. What's more, the Bush
administration denied even being informed of a rebel plot.
In typical White House doublespeak, Bush administration
spokesperson Marlin Fitzwater said, "If we were [informed],
the president doesn't know about it, the secretary of State
doesn't know about it, and the secretary of Defense doesn't
know about it."
They did know about it, and US forces took an active,
although cautious, part. In fact, US intelligence officials
heard about Giroldi's plans to ouster Noriega two days
before the action started. In a meeting with CIA agents in
Panama City on October 1, Giroldi asked the United States to
block off two access roads to the area where the rebellion
was to take place, less than a mile from the central
headquarters of the US Southern Command.
Southern Command troops were put on "Delta Alert" - maximum
battle readiness, and Giroldi's request was granted.
Roadblocks were established and soldiers given permission to
open fire if threatened. This forced loyalist Panamanian
troops to use a third road to get to FDP headquarters.
Capital Hill Erupts
Washington's reaction was furious, and severe criticisms of
the Bush administration came pouring in. The denouncements
were not, however, against US intervention in the sovereign
affairs of another country, but that US troops were not
deployed to help ouster Noriega. "Why do we have 12,000
soldiers in Panama, highly motivated and trained, and not
use them in a military or paramilitary operation," asked
Democratic Representative Ike Skelton. "We knew what was
going to happen... It was a conscious decision of Bush not
to help, and this infuriates me."
"I think it was an error," said Democratic Senator David
Boren, "that the United States, with all its power, all its
force, and all its belief in democracy, has remained
passive, without doing anything and allowing these people to
fail." Boren, president of the Senate Intelligence Committee
that supervises the activities of the CIA, among other
agencies, remarked that US forces could have given the
rebels "a hand."
In Washington, the implications of intervention into the
internal affairs of another country do not seem to have
even entered the debate. Consensus on the Hill is that
Noriega has to go. Pressure has been mounting on the "strong
man" since early in 1988, yet he has proved once again that
he can stick lick crazy glue to power.
(We encourage feedback. Send comments, suggestions, etc. to
us via e-mail. Address cdp!ni!cries)
---
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