Gift of the Panama CanalMuseum the Tropic Times Vol. II, No. 49 Quarry Heights, Republic of Panama Jan. 11, 1990 Chinese premier lifts Beijing s martial law BEIJING (AP) - Premier Li success. He said it proved that "the to try to renew calls for democracy, midnight, but others remained at the Peng lifted Beijing's 7-month-old Chinese Communist Party, the one woman student said: "We're flagpole in the square and the martial law Wednesday night and Chinese government and the Chinese about to go on winter holiday - monument to revolutionary martyrs, said that by crushing pro-democracy people are capable of running their we've all already bought our tickets both guarded even before martial protests, the army had saved China own affairs well." to go home." law. from "the abyss of misery." Martial law officially ended at There was little outward sign of the Police officers said civilians can The largely symbolic action midnight Wednesday (11 a.m. EST lifting of martiallaw. In October, the now enter the square freely, unlike appeared intended chiefly to ease Wednesday). government pulled army guards off during martial law, but they still tried foreign criticism of China's harsh Li the streets, although they remain in to wave away passing bicyclists who crackdown on dissent and cue the fi imposed martial law in Beijing and around the city in walled stopped and climbed over a metal World Bank and industrialized for the first time in 40 years of compounds. railing into the square. A new sign nations to restore badly needed soft Communist rule on May 20, after Special armed police who had went up saying the steps of the loans. more than 1million people had filled guarded the perimeter of Tiananmen monument, used by the protesters as They called the move a "step Beijing streets to support student-led Square - the focal point of the a speaking platform, will remain forward for human rights" and a pro-democracy protesters. spring protests - withdrew at off-limits. dividend of recent U.S. overtures to In his 10-minute speech China. A White House spokesman Wednesday night, broadcast on said there was no change in the U.S. national TV and radio, Li said economic sanctions against China, martial law was "timely, necessary but hinted that the United States and correct." "China is now stable stands ready to largely back World politically, economically and Bank loans for China for socially; production and lives are in humanitarian needs. good order. People live and work in Western diplomats in Beijing peace and contentment," he said. linked Li's action to the December He stressed that the party was not visit of U.S. National Security softening its opposition to efforts to Adviser Brent Scowcroft, who "attempt to subvert the socialist sought an easing of China's system." crackdown in exchange for The party newspaper, the People's normalizing bilateral relations. Daily, used even stronger language, 7 Li, however, sought to portray the declaring: "It is imperative to smash end of martial law as a sign of its the sabotage of hostile forces." Beijing streets and college c w- campuses remained quiet after the speech. IMPORTANT VISIT Gen Maxwell R Thurman US Southern Several students said the end of Command's commander in chief, left, escorts (left to right) Senators Sam State of siege continues martial law made no difference, and Nunn, John W. Warner and CharlesRobb across the Howardf 'ghtfine. The SAN LV AD O R, El noted that tight campus security senators visited Panama recently to view the damage from Operation Just Salvador (UPI) - Lawmakers would remain. Cause and to see what can be done to help rebuild the area and economy. voted to extend the nation's state Asked if any students were likely (U.S. A ir Force photo by A JC Janel Schroeder) of siege for another month Wednesday,Wedesay continuingn~g:Government the suspension of basic civil rights o e m n mayma rpkreplace NNoriega ig prosecutorrscu r that has been in force since leftist MIAMI (UPI) - The Justice quickly as possible. will come out quite well in showing rebels launched a massive Department is considering replacing In other developments Wednes- that people accused of being enemies offensive in November. acting U.S. Attorney Dexter day, New York lawyer Barry of the United States are accorded a Police nab cultists Lehtinen as lead prosecutor in the Slotnick, who defended subway fair trial in this country," Slotnick drug-trafficking trial of deposed vigilante Bernard Goetz, said he said. SAN DIEGO (UPI) - The last Panamanian dictator Manuel expects to make a decision this week Also Wednesday, the lawyer for a two of 13 cult members charged in Noriega, a spokesman said on whether to accept an offer to join co-defendant in the case said he the ritualistic slayings of an Ohio Wednesday. the team to defend the former leader planned to request that his client be family were captured Wednesday Justice Department spokesman of the Panamanian Defense Forces. tried separately from the former on a road in a remote area of San Doug Tillett in Washington said the Slotnick, 50, said by telephone Panamanian dictator. Sam Burstyn, Diego County, authorities said. issue came up Wednesday morning from his New York law office that he who represents Luis Del Cid, said he during a regularly scheduled press was seriously considering the planned to file the motion Astronauts launch briefing with chief spokesman David request. He would not comment on Wednesday afternoon. Runkel. Tillett would not comment who made the request, but said a "I'm trying to present as many CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. on Lehtinen's chances to lead the group of lawyers would be assembled options to my client as possible," (UPI) - Columbia's five case, but did say the Justice to handle the case. Burstyn said, astronauts launched a Navy Department was considering its "This is a very serious matter in Del Cid is accused of acting as communications station like a options. which the American system is going Noriega's liaison and courier with giant Frisbee Wednesday and "There is some ongoing discussion to be tested, and I think the system drug traffickers. fired their ship's rockets to zero in from our end," he said. "There are on a dying 11-ton science satellite discussions between the U.S. A * for a dramatic rescue in space Attorney's Office down there and our A Friday. criminal division, and we are trying G U A Group T EM ALA CITY, Penn, said the United States had evaluates to make sure we have the strongest Guatemala, (Reuter) - An filed extradition papers and was debt prosecution available to us. That's American citizen held on drug awaiting a response from NEW YORK (UPI) - The about as much as we can say." trafficking charges was stabbed to Guatemalan authorities. bank committee evaluating Lehtinen, who was unavailable for death by five inmates in a Onewitnesstoldauthoritiesthe Mexico's massive foreign debt has comment, has not had any trial Guatemalan prison, police said inmates tried to steal $5,000 agreed on a three-year plan to experience in at least 10 years. He Wednesday. apparently delivered by the finance $48 billion in commercial was in the state Legislature for nearly The victim, known to victim's wife during a visit bank debt and will send the pact to eight years when former Attorney Guatemalan authorities as Gary Sunday, the spokesman added. 450 creditor banks for their General Edwin Meese III appointed Elliot Kent Jr., was stabbed in his Police have been unable to track expected approval, it was him acting prosecutor after the cell at the El Pavon penitentiary down the money. announced Wednesday. resignation of Leon Kellner i June Tuesday and died in the prison Three prisoners escaped from 1988. hours later, said police spokesman the penitentiary Monday. Heating tank explodes When Meese's temporary Guillermo Mollinedo. Mollinedo said police were BARSTOW, Calif. (UPI) - A appointment expired after 90 days, A spokesman for the U.S. investigating a possible 70-foot-tallheatingtank exploded the judges named Lehtinen interim Embassy said Kent's real name connection between the stabbing and burst into flames at a solar prosecutor for an indefinite term. was Gordon Krekow Jr., 37, and and th. escape. energy plant in the Mojave Desert L ehtinen's FBI background check said he was indicted by a federal The victim was arrested July 27 Wednesday, heavily damaging a has been completed and there were court in Seattle on Aug. 16 on on charges of trafficking 1,800 second tank and slightly injuring a no problems, Runkel said 'Tuesday. unrelated drug charges. pounds of cocaine in a ship off the worker, authorities said. Officials have said his permanent The embassy spokesman, Brian Pacific cijast, appointment is being processed as -___ 2 Tropic Times Jan. 11, 1990 Soldiers'familiesfight silent battle of nerves Moore added, "Since the elections, Lawrence by Cpl. A. Scott life has been a roller-coaster ride of PMLs and harassment. Something FORT KOBBE (USARSO PAO) The forgotten soldiers, They're the had to be done." The reports of harassment made - the spouses and soldiers' soldiers some wives nervous. Many wives childrenWhile the infantry was doing were afraid to come to Panama, btle the o try es fogt while those already here refused to battle, the other soldiers fought travel outside military installations. from the beginning," of "I was nervous win their war, the wives win heirwar thewivs of1stSmith said. "I didn't want to come Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry One wife, whose husband fought in soldiers pulled together to hang Grenada, compared her experiences.