European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 23, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily a Magazine . Army into Tutor with latin american of Ken during countering urgency training at the school of the americas at fart Gulick Panama. Unable to reach agreement with the panamanian government to keep the school there the army shifted it to fort Banning go., in 1984. . And Panama strained relations by Stephen Kinzer new York times diplomats and american officials say they believe that the panamanian  for years has exercised important political Power is becoming entrenched and May not be willing to withdraw from government any time soon. American relations with Panama have considerably cooled since september when military officers led by Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega commander of the National defense Force ousted the civilian president Nicolas Ardito Barletta. But the United states which has 10.000 troops stationed in Panama is anxious not to disrupt its Friendship with the military according to diplomats and political activists. You americans Are in a bit of a dilemma a european ambassador said. You d like to see a return of democracy Here but the question is How. Noriega knows there Are vital interests Here that have to be protected and he s using a bit of blackmail. As a sign of . Dissatisfaction slate department officials said at least $14 million in foreign Aid earmarked for Panama will be " warn i and sent to Guatemala where an elected civilian has just assumed the presidency. Noriega 47, acknowledged difficulties in his relationship with Washington but said they Are not there have been opinions and criticisms he said and Omen. Hire is an excessive readiness to accept the complaints of the opposition. A har the United states and Panama need each other he continued the United states cannot change its 8 mos Foshe american troops based in Panama Are Allacher to the army s 193rd inf brigade. There is also a Complex of . Navy and air Force installations along the Panama canal. According to William Ormsbee a military spokesman american Maneu vers in Honduras Are directed from Panama. Although Panama is a traditionally peaceful country there appears to be growing frustration among some groups at what is seen As the military s reluctance to retire from politics. With More than 40 percent of the work Force unemployed or underemployed the country s economic condition is becoming a More urgent political Issue. The Central Bank is facing liquidity problems according to Bankers. They said some of Panama s recent interest payments on its $3.8 billion foreign debt had been made several Days late. Public criticism of the military often focuses on allegations of corruption. Diplomats religious leaders and businessmen said they believed the reports were Well founded. In the face of rising labor discontent and the government s growing fiscal problems politicians and diplomats said they believed further changes in the government were possible. Panama has had five presidents in the last 43 months. According to Diplomat Noriega played a decisive role in the decision to oust Barletta the elected president. Associates of Barletta said in interviews that he stepped Down Only after a 14-hour confrontation with Noriega and other officers. He refused to resign formally instead signing a letter in which he said hews separating myself from  after the ouster Eric Arturo Delvalle who had been first vice president succeeded to the presidency with the mandate of filling out Barletta s term which runs until 1989. . Officials especially ambassador Everett Ellis sunday february 23, 1986 Briggs had strongly backed Barletta and were angered by his ouster. During his showdown with the military on sept. 27, Barletta received a Telephone Call irom assistant Secretary of slate Elliott Abrams assuring him of american support and urging him to resist military pressure. In a speech in Panama soon afterwards Briggs pointedly noted that democracy required the rejection of arbitrary authority irom above or from the  we in the americas have seen the failures of oligarchic and military dictatorships he said in what was widely taken As a reprimand to Noriega. We have seen How runaway corruption and abuse of Power opened the door to  in an interview last month Noriega said Panama was being administered by a coordination Between the civilian government team and the defense  after 1989, the defense forces will begin to diminish their political presence he said. The defense forces have a Good image in the lower Middle classes and in the Countryside. People want us to maintain our current  when Barletta Wai running for president in 1984 As the candidate of a coalition dominated by the military he repeatedly said he looked Forward to governing without undue interference. But officials who served in his government said in interviews that the military had insisted on being consulted before the president made key decisions such As choosing an economic policy or a Cabinet minister. Barletta would go out to dedicate a new Road and find Noriega already there taking credit for it a Diplomat said. Delvalle. The new president has been Able to cooperate with the military dominated political coalition but aides said Noriega s associates continued to exercise Broad review of presidential actions. The stars and stripes Page 13