The Tropic Times Endara Seeks to Oust Noriega from Embassy
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Gift of the Panama Canal Museum the TrOpIC Times Vol.11, No. 47 Quarry Heights, Republic of Panana Dec. 28, 1989 Endara seeks to oust Noriega from embassy Wants deposed strongman tried heriega is a criminal. He must "We think the nuncia- 9 facejustice." High-level negotiations for 'common crimes of worst sort between the Bush administration and ture should in the the Vatican to decide Noriega's fat relatively near future tell PANAMA CITY, Panama (UPI) trial in Panama or turn him over to continued with no sign in Panama -Panamanian President Guillermo the United States to face drug- City that a deal was imminent. that criminal to abandon Endara called Wednesday for trafficking and racketeering Papal Nuncio Juan Sebastian the premises. the papal nuncio to cast Manuel indictments in two Florida federal Lab o a to l d U nit e d Pre ss Antonio Noriega out of his embassy courts. International in a telephone Guillermo Endara so the deposed strongman can be Not worthy interview, "I don't see yet how we can tried for "common crimes of the end this thing." worst sort." "Gen. Noriega is not worthy of A Vatican spokesman said in President Bush said the Vatican As Noriega spent a fourth day political asylum. His crimes are Rome he did not believe Noriega stand against turning over Noriega to ensconced in the Vatican mission in common crimes of the worst sort," could legally be handed to U.S. the United States "complicates" the Panama' City seeking political Endara said at a news conference authorities in Panama, but said the situation. He said he was "in close asylum, Panamanians jammed the after he was proclaimed president. Holy See hoped to resolve the touch" with the negotiations and that streets of the capital to return to "We think the nunciature should Noriega question in "days not he would make "diplomatic efforts" work and began piecing together in the relatively near future tell that weeks." to explain U.S. action in Panama to lives and businesses shattered by the criminal to abandon the premises," At his news conference in Texas, other Latin American countries. U.S. invasion that toppled Noriega's regime Dec. 20. Traffic jams replaced firefights as the main obstacle for drivers. U.S. troops surrounding the Vatican Embassy compound to prevent Noriega's escape tightened security. Block access U.S. patrols carrying automatic rifles and M-60 machine guns spread out around the Punta Paitilla neighborhood on the shores of Panama Bay, stacking sandbags and stringing new rolls of concertina wire to block access to the area. Endara, proclaimed president Wednesday by the same election tribunal that annulled his victory in May 7 elections held under Noriega, did not say what his week-old government would do with Noriega if the Vatican ousted him. Endara's 2 government could put Noriega on niews briefs Not Communist HOME COOKING- A though the A rmyprovides two meals daily, this woman prefers Panamanian dishes, such as BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) arroz con polo (rice and chicken) at theBalboa refugee camp. See related story onp.2.(US. A rmy photo by Spec. Bob A top official declared Blocher) Wednesday that Romania is no longer a Communist country, and citizens from waging a "witch hunt" of revenge against WASHINGTON (AP) -- The the active duty civil affairs officers in our individuals have in banking, supporters of the old regime. Army has been flooded with offers their effort to rebuild and restore utilities, medical (matters), public from volunteers-who want to go to order in Panama," he said. transportation, law enforcement and Very bloody year Panama and help restore battered The Army particularly sought education." Panama every NEW YORK (AP) - This was public services, a spokesman said specialists, such as engineers or The 361st trains in year and routinely works with the the bloodiest year on record in at Wednesday. people familiar with transit systems and U.S. military least ahalf-dozenofAmerica'sbig "It's unbelievable," said Maj. or sanitation programs. civil government Fitts there, Randall said. cities, and law enforcement Henry Fitts, a spokesman at the U.S. So many have volunteered, that About 25 percent of the Pensacola- officials are virtually unanimous Army Reserve Special Operations said in a telephone interview, based reservists and half of those in in blaming drug wars for the Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. he's been unable to get a count. Perrine speak Spanish, he said. violence. "Call it patriotism, call it boredom, The number to be chosen to go to call it what you will, but we've had to Panama probably will be "in the proposal set up a 24-hour operation just to dozens, rather than hundreds, Considers screen the volunteers," Fitts said. because we really need people with WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon already has specific talents," he said. service set for President Bush is considering a dispatched 25 reserve civil affairs Most people can be expected to Pentagon proposal to launch "a specialists along with 107 active duty put in about two weeks, but Friday evening virtual air and sea blockade" experts to Panama. regulations permit a tour of duty of FORT CLAYTON (USARSO around Colombia aimed at halting Civil affairs specialists act as up to 139 days, a bit less than 20 PAO)- A Hanukkahdinner and narcotic shipments by drug liaison officers between the military weeks. celebration followed by Sabbath cartels, a senior administration and the civilian government to help In Florida, soldiers from the 361st services will be held at the Fort official says. re-establish public services disrupted Civil Affairs Bridgade in Pensacola Clayton Chapel Friday beginning Heating oil surges by fighting, such as utilities and and a subordinate unit, the 478th at 6:30 p.m. NEW YORK (AP) - Heating transportation. Civil Affairs Company in Perrine, Chaplain (Capt.) Ben Romer, a oil prices surged higher again Virtually all the Army's civil affairs near Miami, will leave Friday for rabbi from Fort Stewart, Ga., flew Wednesday -with consumers specialists are in reserve units, and Panama, said Maj. Tom Bechtell, a to Panama to provide Jewish. paying more than Si a gallon in the Pentagon paged those units for member of the brigade. denominational coverage for many parts.of the country - as volunteers, Fitts said. Lt. Col. Richard Randall, plans soldiersparticipating inOperation cold weather continued depleting We've (in the reserves) been and operations officer of the brigade, Just Cause. stocks of the fuel. d requested by the (regular) Special said his unit will "help the For information call 287-5859. Operations Command to augment government with certain expertise - 2 Tropic Times Dec. 28, 1989 Troops, reporters maintain vigil at Vatican Embassy PANAMA CITY, Panama (UPI) Panamanians gathered a few You," "I Fought the Law and the the streets very soon." Several U.S. - Surrounded by U.S. troops, the blocks away from the embassy Law Won," and songs by Twisted troops guarding streets near the Vatican Embassy has become a Wednesday with banners calling for Sister, David Bowie and U-2. Embassy said the radio broadcasts bizarre scene of mystery and intrigue Noriega to be called to justice. U.S. A U.S. soldier on duty outside the were meant to entertain the soldiers where helicopters hover, flares light troops set up a radio that broadcast embassy said the programming - but an American officer would not the night sky and piercing rock music news and music at rock concert broadcast over the Southern disregard the speculation that the assaults the ears. decibels. Command network - was U.S. military was trying to work on The tableau is for ousted military A loud speaker set up in a parking deliberately aimed at Noriega, who is Noriega's nerves. strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega lot across the street from the embassy a known opera buff. who waits inside to learn the blared loud American rock music Later, the radio broadcast news "He (Noriega) is a wily cat," said outcome of high-level negotiations t u n e s , r a n g i n g f r o m L e e reports of the standoff at the Lt. Brian Colebaugh of Des Moines, involving the Holy See in Rome, the Greenwood's "I'm Proud to be an Embassy. At one point the voice of Iowa. "You might try anything at United States, and the Panamanian American," to Linda Ronstadt's newly installed President Guillermo your disposal to try to flush him out. government that replaced him after a "You're No Good." Other tunes Endara filled the air as he called on Buf I think all this (military presence) U.S. invasion drove him from power. included "Somebody's Watching the embassy to "turn Noriega out on around here is pyscho enough." Journalists have moved into the nearby Holiday Inn hotel renting most of the rooms overlooking the Embassy to watch the goings and comings in the street below. Photographers with cameras mounted on balconies hope to capture a few frames of Noriega while U.S. troops keep an eye on the journalists through binoculars. A Panamanian television station reported Tuesday that Noriega was seen with a towel over his shoulders on the Embassy patio, but otherwise the vigil has been in vain. The U.S. military, which surrounded the area Sunday afternoon after it learned Noriega was inside, has posted troops in highrise buildings next to the embassy and has blocked the surrounding streets with barbed wire and armored vehicles. Every car leaving the compound is thoroughly searched by the troops. On Tuesday night, helicopters circled the area, and some street lights outside the Embassy were shot out, sparking rumors Noriega had been whisked away in the dark.