Fate of former members of Noriega's government, political party and armed forces, including military officers. [PAN9501]
Various reports indicate that followers of Manuel Noriega, members
of his government and the armed forces have faced a variety of
fates. A general response that would be accurate for all cases
cannot be made. However, the information that follows may be of
interest to you.
Some of Noriega's associates were arrested, while others sought
refuge in foreign embassies and abroad. Their deportation to face
trial in Panama has, in some cases, been requested by the
Panamanian government. News reports indicate that more than eighty
people linked to Noriega, including members of his government and
family, sought refuge in foreign embassies and eventually managed
to leave Panama. Panama has requested that the Peruvian and Cuban
governments extradite a former army major who sought refuge in the
Peruvian embassy and later fled to Peru, and a former legislator
who fled to Cuba who had been recently accused of killing opponents
(Reuters 31 May 1991). The person who was President of Panama
before the United States invasion of 1989 was recently ordered
arrested in Panama on charges of embezzlement based on events
dating back to 1984 (Reuters 15 May 1991).
A number of reports indicate that some members of the Panamanian
Defence Forces became members of the reorganized police after the
armed forces were disbanded. Nevertheless, a recent report states
that "after the U.S. invasion of Panama 19 months ago, all of
Noriega's military cronies were incarcerated, along with others who
had collaborated with the Noriega regime" (
Central America
Report 6 Sept. 1991). The same source adds that none of those
people had received a trial, adding that two of them (Colonel
Marcos Justine Fern ndez and Rafael Cedeño) managed to be
released by a judge who was subsequently fired (
Ibid.). A
copy of the cited article is attached to this response.
For information related to pro-Noriega politicians currently
participating in Panamanian politics, please refer to the Response
to Information Request No. PAN9500.
Bibliography
Central America Report
[Guatemala]. 6 September 1991. "Panama: Executive Intervention in
Judicial Decisions."
Reuters. 31 May 1991. "Panama Asks Cuba
to Extradite Former Lawmaker." (NEXIS)
_____. 15 May 1991. "Panama Judge Orders
Arrest of Ex-President Rodríguez." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Central America Report
[Guatemala]. 6 September 1991. "Panama: Executive Intervention in
Judicial Decisions."