Panama starts investigation of the USA invasion
December 21, 2007
The purpose of the military operation was to capture the president of the country – general Manuel Antonio Noriega, who was accused by the US authorities in drug trafficking and other crimes.
Some districts of the Panamanian capital were severely shelled. Bombing and caused by it fire completely destroyed the district of El Chorrillo, where a faithful to the president military unit was situated. The US marines thought that Noriega should be right there. At that time about 20 thousand resident used to live in El Chorrillo. Till now nobody knows how many people were killed during the early hours bombing and fire. The official figure says 500 people, but human rights activists insist on the figure of 5000, the Panamanians themselves say that hardly anybody could survive at that horrible day.
Invasion of 1989, without a doubt, is the biggest tragedy of Panama in the XXth century.
Now, 18 years later, the National Assembly declared the day of December 20 the day of mourning. From now on, all flags will be lowered and all entertainments will be cancelled. As decided by the deputies, the monument in honour of the killed Panamanians, will be erected in El Chorrillo.
Recently elected president of the National Assembly Pedro Miguel Gonzalez accused all political circles of the country in the desire – due to various reasons – to consign to oblivion the events of 1989. He made this statement during the act in memory of those killed on December 20, 1989.
Representatives of trade union and students organisations held a manifestation near the USA embassy accusing the military invasion to Panama and foreign policy that is pursued by the «northern neighbour». As a protest the manifestants burned the doll of «Uncle Sam» and the US flag.
The mournful date of December 20 adds to another one – January 9 and 10, when in Panama they recollect the students who, in January days of 1964, tried to raise the national flag in the Panama Canal zone, where a USA military base used to be situated, and who were shot dead by the North Americans.
As everyone is well aware, the «person responsible» for invasion Noriega was not in El Chorrillo, he was hiding for several days, and on December 23 he surrendered to the US representatives. He was accused in Miami and sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment for drug trafficking. But later, «for decent behaviour» the term was reduced and in September 2007 he was supposed to be disincarcerated.