European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday. January 5, 1990 the stars and strikes Noriega in custody David facing Goliath or common criminal shrewd Fough ch/7d of poverty had rapid Rise b the ass waited press to his followers Den Manuel Antonio Noriega was a living breathing Symbol tit panamanian a Brave Davit firm against the imperialist Goliath of Washington Bui As car As the u hit House is concerned. Sri spa is a common criminal a Man who enriched h i self in Selling his countr to colombian drug draft ukers. A dangerous mag Romaniac who reads to diag ins country and people Down with him. In the Long simmering dispute thai ended late wednesday Wanh Noriega meekly surrendering into . Custody to Lake drug trafficking charges a shag ton first imposed economic sanctions against Panama in an Effort to dislodge the general from Power. But As unemployment in Panama Rose food lines lengthened and hundreds of businesses declared bankruptcy the general stood fast he had a whipping bos. The United states whom he could blame with some degree of Success for All of Panama s ills. The indictments and the sanctions were All part of a . Plot to renege on a 1978 treaty granting Panama sovereignty Over the canal by the scar 2000, he told ins followers. At such appearances. Noriega his face contorted would brandish a Machete above his head and. At the critical moment of crowd Fervour bring it crashing Down on the podium in front of him. A in paso alias not one step he would shout to the faithful. His audience on its feet now would take up the chant a in paso alms in in Asci Arras " Long after first making thai speech on May i. 1988. On International l.,Ihor Day. The phrase would remain As Noriega s rallying cry. But even in a country that he controlled lock Stock and barrel through a Combina Tion of patronage and terror it began to Wear thin. When elections apparently were going against him in May 1989. Noreiga abruptly had them annulled. For a time he had his own handpick cd Man As provisional president. His puppet legislature later gave Noriega full civil Ian Powers to go with the military clout he had Long possessed and which made him the most powerful Man in Panama. But by this time. Noriega s behaviour was becoming increasingly erratic and violent. On dec. 20. Shortly after incidents in which a . Marine lieutenant was killed by panamanian defense forces and in which according to president Bush a . Navy couple was abused . Troops invaded Panama and Noriega fled into hiding. On Christmas eve the former strongman sought Sanctuary in the Vatican embassy Sanctuary he finally yielded late wednesday. Noriega was a shrewd Tough child of poverty schooled in intrigue. He managed to become head of the defense forces chief of Panama s military and police through his loyalty to his predecessor and men Tor. Gen. Omar Torrijos. The handsome charismatic Torrijos changed the defense forces from an organisation led by the social elite into a tightly disciplined Force of 15,1100 with absolute police military and political Power. He opened the upper ranks to the lower economic classes and created a base of Power from a new Genera Tion of officers. Noriega a poor boy who went to Mili tary school in Peru on a scholarship was among them less than a year after taking Power in a coup in 1968, Torrijos made Noriega an obscure provincial lieutenant with Only four years of i Harv service his chief of intelligence. Noriega quickly began collecting dossiers on every one who counted in Panama friends and enemies alike. He developed close tics with . Intelligence Agen cies interested in any potential threat to the Security of the Panama canal ties that Many analysts a could prove embarrassing to the United slates if brought Oul in any open trial of Noreiga. Demonstrator pics before Gen. Minnie ass us inst Init Ricardi s outside the Vatican in Panama City during � protest wednesday Al Antonio Noriega surrendered. I a. Troops patrol the Chassy Side of the harriers i Torrijos also Gase Noriega jurisdiction out customs and immigration Long a source of funds for the Nnoli lady and for the of Luias to charge. Miler Bornios died in an unexplained plane crash in ivs. It look Noriega about two scars to shoulder his Way to the lop command. I me Iacre. He boldly and Nith Lassk Ever Seear Hul in Addi Tion to drug smuggling he was said Loha a his linger in a wide Range of enter poses. Among them were duly free it Jour stores maritime sen ices Banks gambling casinos newspapers a television station and 12 radio stations. He lived in a two Story colonial style mansion in one of Panama s most exclusive neighbourhoods and maintained a Heel of expensive cars. Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega acknowledges cheers during a 1988 Solidarity rail with Kur Pean and i Jilin american supporters
