European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 28 the stars and stripes sunday March 27.1968 Panama crisis deepens As army misses payday Panama City. Panama a Gen. Manue Lantonio Noriega failed for the tint Lime to pay the i 5.000-Mcmber Arm that forms his base of support As this nation plunges deeper into economic crisis and pol in scat con pro Tatton. The military backed Sovern mint shaken by a week Long general Sirick that has shut Down More than 90percent of the nation on Friday threatened to revoke the operating licenses of businesses thai did not re openly sell such Sii Iii us ill food Medicine and gasoline. The opposition meanwhile planned massive demonstrations monday thai appeared Likely to trigger a confrontation with troops Loyal to Noriega. The general under indictment in the United Stales for drug trafficking on Friday again blamed his nation s troubles on inc uni cd states and what Noriega described As the . Desire to control the Panama canal. A Man is not the problem Noriega said of him self. The problem is Panama s canal and the presence of a foreign army in our Noriega denied he had any connections with drug trafficking pilots who Les lined before the Florida grand juries that indicted him and joked about reports he wields a $20q-mi1tion Fortune. Bring it to me bring in to me. And i la pay of Panama s foreign debt Noriega said. The general implicitly threatened to Force the nation s Banks to open their doors. On thursday the Banks refused to hand Over a estimated $70 million in their vaults so that the government would pay the army on Friday pensioners monday and 130,000 Public employees Over the next week. On saturday the panamanian Bankers association said the government s request for Cash docs not solve the problem of inc fiscal and financial crisis of the nation that has deep political the association s statement said we do not agree with the use by the government of these funds to try to solve partially a fiscal problem of the Public sector through Means that would endanger even More testability of the banking ninety of the is panamanian and foreign Banks operating in Panama belong to the association. Banks said they refused to open partly to support the general Sirick and partly because they fear a panic run on their deposits. Or. It jul Michael Muni firer from the German 140lofihhiry docs not want to swing gloom and doom Liberal Job it Pataria we re not going to do in told reporters he is unsure whether the cease a agreement in Nicaragua will work. "1 am Sec pit Cal no said. I Hope in works. I Hope peace con come Iii democracy and Freedom. Those two have to oth a you can Tomb ends up with the Sovi ets ending up Wilt Maikl viral America. The american people arc not Ai of our Initia Tives with the contras As. I d Cert to Tihe fact dictate. Bui they Are strongly Suponi vital cent overwhelmingly so that inc soviets Sho have another stronghold in this hemisphere he said the Senate Side has been the chief advocate of the cuts and steadfastly has refund to alter his position Hal the full 6 percent Cul should be carried through. In its markup of the defense authorization Bill the House Suttom Millic even approved an increase in household goods weight allowances for personnel Mak ing reassignment moves. Details on who would be affected and what the in creases would be were unavailable. The full House committee will meet this week to Iron out a final defense authorization Bill. Chairman los Aspin d-wis., Hopes to bring the Bill to the House floor for a vote the week of april 18. The Senate is moving More slowly on he defense budget and the schedule Tor action on its version of the defense authorization Bill is Uncertain. Reagan to reduced Teal. Lal the subject of Pardon can t Reagan added to believe that the Cut Dine to be found because i Don t believe to hts Silty of Taw King of any Ert charges Stem after Kellii is
