
CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE
September 22, 1989

Copyright 1989 Latin America Data Base, 
Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico.  
Project Director: Dr. Nelson Valdes.  
Managing Editor: Dr. Barbara A. Kohl

---------------------
Source:  UNITEX Echo

PANAMA: ADOC'S LEADER GUILLERMO ENDARA ON HUNGER STRIKE
TO CALL ATTENTION TO OPPOSITION CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN

     On Sept. 20, former presidential candidate of the Civil
Democratic Opposition Alliance (ADOC) Guillermo Endara
commenced a hunger strike to call attention to the
opposition's civil disobedience campaign against the
provisional government.  "I declare myself on an indefinite
hunger strike until the `Not One Cent More for the
Government' campaign is recognized and supported by the
Panamanian people," he said.
     Endara was referring to a campaign launched last month
by ADOC exhorting Panamanians to delay utility, tax and
other payments to the government.  The opposition effort has
been largely ignored.
     At ADOC headquarters, Endara said, "I will follow all
that is applicable from the rules written by Mahatma Gandhi
for his hunger strike of November 1925."
     On the same day, ADOC leaders and former vice
presidential candidates Guillermo Ford and Ricardo Arias
Calderon, began a diplomatic initiative to seek support for
their demand that Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega resign as
commander-in-chief of the Panamanian Defense Forces, and as
Panama's de facto ruler.  They are to tour Jamaica, Britain,
Italy, Spain, West Germany, Belgium, France, Canada and the
US.
     In Washington, the Organization of American States
(OAS) voted to include the Panamanian political crisis for
discussion during its General Assembly scheduled to begin in
mid-November.
     On Sept. 21, the Panamanian government warned it would
prosecute anyone who attempts to disrupt public order.
(Basic data from AFP, 09/20/89, 09/21/89; Xinhua, 09/20/89)


CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE
September 22, 1989

Copyright 1989 Latin America Data Base, 
Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico.  
Project Director: Dr. Nelson Valdes.  
Managing Editor: Dr. Barbara A. Kohl

---------------------
Source:  UNITEX Echo

BAHAMAS SUSPENDS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH PANAMA

     On Sept. 16, a press communique from the Foreign
Ministry of the Bahamas said that all official contact with
the Panamanian government has been suspended.  "The Bahamas
government maintains no diplomatic relations with Panama and
in view of the new developments now obtaining in that
country, the Bahamas suspends all official contact with
Panama."  (Basic data from Xinhua, 09/16/89)


CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE
September 22, 1989

Copyright 1989 Latin America Data Base, 
Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico.  
Project Director: Dr. Nelson Valdes.  
Managing Editor: Dr. Barbara A. Kohl

---------------------
Source:  UNITEX Echo

PANAMA: OPPOSITION NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER ARRESTED

     On Sept. 15, owner-publisher of El Siglo, Jaime Padilla
Beliz, was arrested by about 15 armed plainclothesmen, said
Venus Cardenas, one of Padilla's lawyers.  El Siglo,
critical of Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, was closed down by
the government in July 1987 on charges of undermining the
physical and economic security of the state.
     Padilla was taken away from the offices of the Padilla
y Asociados law firm.  He is a senior partner in the firm.
(Basic data from AP, 09/15/89)


CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE
September 22, 1989

Copyright 1989 Latin America Data Base, 
Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico.  
Project Director: Dr. Nelson Valdes.  
Managing Editor: Dr. Barbara A. Kohl

---------------------
Source:  UNITEX Echo

PANAMA: REPORT ON RAPE BY U.S. SOLDIERS

     In its Sept. 18 issue, El Matutino reported that three
US soldiers identified as Kristian Johnson, James
Stratzinger and Juan Ocasio, Jr., had been arrested for
allegedly raping two women in Panama City.  THe three, said
the newspaper, "were found drugged and in a complete state
of intoxication" Sept. 17 after they allegedly raped the
women and "threw" them from a moving car.
     In a telephone interview with the AFP, an unidentified
US Southern Command spokesperson said he was unaware of the
report, and declined comment.  (Basic data from AFP,
09/18/89)


CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE
September 22, 1989

Copyright 1989 Latin America Data Base, 
Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico.  
Project Director: Dr. Nelson Valdes.  
Managing Editor: Dr. Barbara A. Kohl

---------------------
Source:  UNITEX Echo

PANAMA: U.S. ARMY OFFICER DIES IN FALL FROM BUILDING

     On Sept. 19, US Lt.Col. Lee Jalesowski died in a fall
from the third story of a building at Fort Clayton, 17 km.
northeast of Panama City.  US Southern Command officials
reported the incident on Sept. 20, but gave no details.
     Pro-government newspaper Critica reported that
Jalesowski was a member of a US Army intelligence unit, and
that he was thrown to his death.  The Southern Command
denied the report that the officer was murdered.  (Basic
data from AFP, 09/21/89)


