Panama says sorry for military rule, decades on

Source: Agence France-Presse

Panama says sorry for military rule, decades on
by Staff Writers
Panama City (AFP) May 24, 2010

President Ricardo Martinelli's government on Monday issued Panama's first apology by a democratic administration for the Central American nation's 1968-1989 military dictatorship, more than 20 years after it ended.

"We have a responsibility as the State to deliver for you, and so with this act and our presence here, we ask for your forgiveness in the name of the Panamanian state," said Vice President Juan Carlos Varela, at a ceremony honoring one of the dictatorship's victims, Heliodoro Portugal.

"This is a ceremony in honor of all the missing from the military dictatorship. And it is a ceremony that makes us reflect, and ask forgiveness as a state, and urge all Panamanians to recognize our mistakes, and turn the page on this chapter" of Panama's history, said Varela.

He said Panamanians should learn from the country's mistakes "so that they never happen again."

Read more: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Panama_says_sorry_for_military_rule_decades_on_999.html

THE RESUMÉ OF MANUEL NORIEGA,

THE MOST FAMOUS GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS

(1) Noriega, considered "outstanding" at the SOA, is on the CIA payroll (to the tune of up to $100,000 a year) from the mid-�60s to the mid-�80s.

(2) His drug trafficking, though known, is no obstacle to his chumminess with George Bush (CIA director and "Vice" President) during the �70s and early �80s.

(3) His true crime is being an independent leader of Panama, just before the US is obliged to return the stolen Panama Canal Zone on January 1st, 1990.

(4) So after publicly demonizing his longtime friend and employee, Bush slaughters thousands of Panamanians and installs a puppet government, in the nick of time, on December 20th, 1989.

(5) Let�s not call any more presidents "wimps", ok? It just pisses �em off.

The gory details�

50s-60s Spy for US, informing on colleagues in his socialist party, and on leftist students at his Peruvian military academy. � New York Times, 9/28/88

1967 Finishes courses at SOA including Infantry Officer, Combat Intelligence Officer, Military Intelligence (Counter-Intelligence Officer Course), and Jungle Operations. An instructor calls him "outstanding." � John Dinges, Our Man in Panama, 1991

1971 US has "hard evidence" of his heavy involvement in drug trafficking, "sufficient for indictment". Nixon sets in motion initial plans for his assassination. � Frontline (PBS), 1/30/90

1970-76 Meanwhile, Noriega is in the pay of the CIA and the Pentagon, reportedly receiving more than $100,000 per year. � Newsweek, 1/15/90

1976 CIA Director George Bush gives him a VIP tour of CIA headquarters in Washington; he resides with Bush's Deputy Director. � Dinges

1977 Carter officials reportedly remove him from the US payroll. � New York Times, 10/2/88

1979 Gives haven to the overthrown Shah of Iran, brutal US-installed dictator.

1981 Becomes part of a ruling military junta after 13-year dictator and SOA graduate General Omar Torrijos dies in a plane crash, later blamed on Noriega and the CIA by other junta members.

Reagan/Bush officials put him back on the US payroll, again reportedly at more than $100,000 per year. � San Francisco Chronicle, 6/11/87

1981-83 Extensive drug trafficking and money laundering involving the Medellin, Colombia cocaine cartel. � Dinges

8/83 Seizes command of the National Guard (to be renamed "Panama Defense Forces"). He is the effective chief of state.

11/83 Washington visits with White House, State Department and Pentagon, including CIA Director William Casey. � Newsweek, 1/15/90

1983-86 The US loves him for: spying on Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega; allowing the United States to set up listening posts in Panama, with which they monitor sensitive communications in all of Central America and beyond; aiding the American warfare against the rebels in El Salvador and the government of Nicaragua (facilitating the flow of money and arms to the contras, allowing the US to base spy planes in Panama in clear violation of the canal treaties, giving the US permission to train contras in Panama, and spying in support of American sabotage inside of Nicaragua). � Newsweek, 1/15/90

More:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lormand/poli/soa/panama.htm

in the Latin American forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x36962#36964

Absolutely unbelievable. It may take you a moment to recognize the people, and when you do, you might want to barf!

You need to see this one!