Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 31 May 2017

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega dies at 83

By JUAN ZAMORANO fist, ordering the deaths of gal troubles to his refusal to the rapid growth of a be- threats to the canal. Two
KATHIA MARTINEZ those who opposed him cooperate with a U.S. plan nign brain tumor that had years after Torrijos died in
Associated Press and maintaining a murky, aimed at toppling Nicara- first been spotted four a mysterious plane crash
PANAMA CITY (AP) — For- close and conflictive re- gua’s leftist Sandinista gov- years earlier, and in Janu- in 1981, Noriega became
mer Panamanian dicta- lationship with the United ernment in the 1980s. ary a court granted him the head of the armed
tor Manuel Noriega, a States. Ezra Angel, a lawyer for house arrest to prepare for forces and Panama’s de
onetime U.S. ally who was After his downfall, Norie- Noriega, said Tuesday surgery on the tumor. facto ruler. Noriega was
He is survived by his wife considered a valued CIA
Felicidad and daughters asset and was paid millions
Lorena, Thays and Sandra. of dollars for assistance to
Following Noriega’s ouster the U.S. throughout Latin
Panama underwent huge America, including acting
changes, taking over the as a liaison to Cuban lead-
Panama Canal from U.S. er Fidel Castro.
control in 1999, vastly ex- Noriega also helped the
panding the waterway U.S. seize drugs at sea and
and enjoying a boom in track money laundering in
tourism and real estate. Panama’s banks, and re-
Today the Central Ameri- ported on guerrilla and ter-
can nation has little in com- rorist activities.
mon with the bombed-out Washington ultimately
neighborhoods where soured on him, especially
Noriega hid during the after a top political oppo-
1989 invasion, before be- nent was killed in 1985 and
ing famously smoked out Noriega appeared to join
of his refuge at the Vatican forces with Latin American
Embassy by incessant, loud drug traffickers. Foes in the
rock music blared by U.S. Panamanian military at-
troops.Known mockingly tempted several coups but
as “Pineapple Face” for his failed, and their leaders
In this May 2, 1989 photo, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega walks with supporters in the Chorrilo pockmarked complexion, were summarily executed
neighborhood, where he dedicated a new housing project, in Panama City. Former Panamanian Manuel Antonio Noriega by firing squad.
dictator Noriega died late Monday, May 29, 2017, at age 83. Panamanian President Juan Carlos was born poor in Panama The beginning of his down-
Varela wrote in his Twitter account that “the death of Manuel A. Noriega closes a chapter in our City on Feb. 11, 1934, and fall came in 1988 when
history.” was raised by foster par- federal grand juries in the
(AP Photo/John Hopper) ents. He joined Panama’s Florida cities of Miami and

Defense Forces in 1962 Tampa indicted Noriega
ousted by an American ga served a 17-year drug there was no official word and steadily rose through on drug-trafficking charg-
invasion in 1989, died late sentence in the United on what caused his death. the ranks, mainly through es. Initially he reacted with
Monday at age 83. States, then was sent to “We are asking for the fam- loyalty to his mentor, Gen. defiance at U.S. economic
Panamanian President face charges in France. He ily to be given space to say Omar Torrijos, who be- sanctions designed to drive
Juan Carlos Varela wrote spent all but the last few goodbye to their father in came Panama’s de facto him from power. He fa-
in his Twitter account that months of his final years in peace and tranquility,” leader after a 1968 coup. mously waved a machete
“the death of Manuel A. a Panamanian prison for Angel told The Associated As Torrijos’ intelligence at a rally while vowing not
Noriega closes a chapter murder of political oppo- Press. chief, Noriega monitored to leave, and in 1989 he
in our history.” nents during his 1983-89 re- In recent years Noriega political opponents and nullified elections that ob-
Varela added, “His daugh- gime. suffered various ailments developed close ties with servers say were handily
ters and his relatives de- He accused Washington of including high blood pres- U.S. intelligence agencies won by the opposition.
serve to mourn in peace.” a conspiracy to keep him sure and bronchitis. guarding against possible U.S. President George H.W.
Noriega ruled with an iron behind bars and tied his le- In 2016, doctors detected Bush ordered the invasion
Brazil’s Temer insists he will remain on the job in December 1989, and
Noriega was captured and
taken to Miami. During the
By MAURICIO SAVARESE and he pledged to push for alleged obstruction of audience of business lead- operation, 23 U.S. military
Associated Press ahead with austerity mea- justice and passive corrup- ers at the Brazil Investment personnel died and 320
SAO PAULO (AP) — Presi- sures meant to cure Brazil’s tion. Forum. were wounded, and the
dent Michel Temer insisted struggling economy. Temer has denied any “Today we are on the right Pentagon estimated 200
Tuesday he’ll stay on the Temer has been under wrongdoing, accusing a track. We put the country Panamanian civilians and
job until his term ends in De- increasing fire since the business mogul of conspir- back on track,” he said, 314 soldiers were killed.
cember 2018 despite grow- country’s top prosecutor ing against him. saying he will leave “the
ing calls for his resignation opened investigations two He was defiant as he ad- house in order” for the next Continued on Page 27
over corruption allegations, weeks into the president dressed a generally friendly president.