unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/14/89)
UN SECURITY COUNCIL: -- TAKE 2
Continuing, Mr. RITTER, Foreign Minister of Panama, said the crisis
between the two countries had been worsening because of United States actions,
he said. The United States had authorized the use of military commissariats,
despite the expiration of that particular agreement. Further, the United
States had refused to pay to Panama its share of tolls it owed for use of the
Canal.
Also, he continued, the United States had given new functions to the
governing body of the Canal Commission, thus preventing the Administrator's
position from being taken over by a Panamanian citizen. Thus it seemed that
as of 1 January 1990 the Canal would have no Administrator.
There were no grounds for further delay, he said. He had come to the
Council in expectation of an "imminent catastrophe." The case of Panama was
different from most faced by the Council -- United States forces were already
entrenched on Panamanian territory. Panama lived under the threat of armed
aggression.
Since the entry into force of the Panama Canal Treaties in 1979, whenever
United States forces wished to mobilize beyond agreed areas, they were
responsible for notifying the Panamanian authorities. The procedures to be
followed were clearly stipulated in the Treaties, including the prohibiting of
United States troops moving about in uniform, except in stipulated areas.
Military manoeuvres had always been held jointly and in co-ordination.
Suddenly, he said, with no explanation, the United States had decided to
ignore all of those practices and procedures. Its hostile actions had
increased and had gone beyond all reason.
He asked the Council to decide whether the United States actions
onstituted aggression. Quoting provisions of General Assembly resolution
3314 (XXIX) on the definition of aggression, he cited activities by the United
States which were in violation of that resolution, including an incident on
8 June in which a United States helicopter crashed on Panamanian territory.
Further, on 18 June, helicopters and heavily armed forces had occupied a water
filtration plant which provided drinking water to a third of the republic.
The plant had been held for 24 hours, on the pretext that the United States
was carrying out military manoeuvres.
(END OF TAKE 2)
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