Here We Go Again

By Leroy A. Binns Ph.D

Panama’s most recent general election has reinstitute barbarism as the governing forces declared the results null and void.

According to foreign sources following the final tally which favored the opposition 3 to 1 the ruling party denied the outcome and two days later invalidated the process. To top it all the Panamanian political machine has been accused of suppressing its rivals. One of the most striking incidents involved the severe beating of Panama’s opposition presidential candidate Guillermo Endura who was hospitalized with injuries sustained to the head while another entails a bloody torture received by Guillermo Ford the opposition’s presidential nominee at the hands of government supporters.

As the Western world continues to absorb the shocking tales steps are underway to curb the wave of violence. In Washington the Organization of American States has concluded that the democratic process in Panama was tainted and therefore agreed to help solve the problem through the creation of a fact finding commission and moves are afoot to expel the Panama from the Group of Eight – a political organization comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The Bush administration has also rejected the electoral outcome and has openly requested the ouster of General Manuel Noriega. In order to support her position she has continued to maintain an economic embargo and has bolstered reinforcement in the canal zone while urging Latin American countries to exert pressure on the Panamanian government. Unlike his predecessor President Bush has gained high marks for bipartisan support in Congress. Nonetheless foreign governments are unsure of America’s intentions.

The word on Capitol Hill is that the United States will refrain from gunboat diplomacy unless such response is warranted. But the same was said of Grenada before she fell prey to US invasion in 1983. Furthermore the embarrassment felt by the Reagan camp at the hands of the present regime is still remembered and could serve as a pretext for irresponsible behavior.

In recent days congressional members have shown signs of uncertainty in relation to the crisis. Upon return from Panama US electoral observers Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack were staunch supporters of a US backed invasion however they now endorse a “wait and see” policy. In addition Senator Christopher Dodd, the chairman of the subcommittee on Western Hemisphere and Peace Corp Affairs on This Week with David Brinkley stopped short of inciting US intervention but emphatically expressed a possibility for the use of such action.

Such unpreparedness has nevertheless been confronted by Latin American diplomats who along with leftist newspapers and parties are suggesting a “hands off” approach by the American government. In fact they are fully aware of the Nicaragua dilemma that ironically involved Noriega at the latter’s request and thus overwhelmingly support regional diplomacy in order to avoid uncontrollable bloodshed in Panama and possibly surrounding states.

Panama’s future remains unclear nonetheless the solution to this delicate situation may serve as an impetus for social change.