PANAMA'S COUP SAID TO TAKE BYZANTINE, MURDEROUS TURNS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000201180009-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 2, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sl Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201180009-4
ARTICLE
WASHINGTON POST
2 October 1985
Panama's Coup Said to Take Byzantine,
Murderous Turns
By Edward Cody
Washington Post Foreign Service
PANAMA CITY, Oct. 1-The mysterious decapita-
tion of a prominent Panamanian adventurer and a lead-
ership struggle in the military played major roles in the
downfall last Saturday of Panama's first elected pres-
ident in 16 years, according to reliable sources here.
To keep the story quiet, officers in the Panamanian
Defense Force have warned local journalists that vigor-
ous reporting or comment on the subject could endanger
them, according to journalists and other sources.
One prominent columnist has gone into hiding after
military intelligence agents showed up at his house, and
U.S. Ambassador Everett Ellis Briggs has expressed
concern to editors of the caustic opposition paper a
Prensa that their comments could lead the military to
close them down, journalists said.
These circumstances surrounding President Nicolas
Ardito Barletta's resignation have brought to the sur-
face the realities of military power here that were ob-
scured during 11 months of a civilian rule that was en-
dorsed by the United States.
In so doing, the end of Ardito Barletta's tenure has
underlined the fragility of Reagan administration at-
tempts to foster democratic institutions in the re-
gions's countries where the seat of power is the bar-
racks.
To dramatize its displeasure, the administration an-
nounced suspension of $5 million in aid three days after
Vice President Eric Arturo Delvalle replaced Ardito
Barletta. But a Panamanian official expressed confi-
dence that U.S. relations with the Defense Force will
remain close as long as American military bases here
and the Panama Canal are unaffected.
"It doesn't matter who the president is," said a highly
placed Panamanian political source. "What matters is
what the Defense Force does."
The military commander, Gen. Manuel Antonio No-
riega, had grown increasingly impatient with Ardito
Barletta's performance in managing the troubled Pan-
amanian economy, particularly a $3.8 billion debt. Del-
valle charged in his inauguration speech that Ardito
Barletta demonstrated lack of political leadership at a
time of economic crisis, suggesting this was the only
reason for his unceremonious ouster.
But the dissatisfaction that had been brewing for
months boiled over only after the decapitated body of
Dr. Hugo Spadafora was found just inside Costa Rica on
Sept. 14, Panamanian and other sources pointed out.
Spadafora, a 45-year-old physician, was a public en-
emy of Noriega, having accused the Defense Force
commander of drug trafficking and arms smuggling. In
addition, he was well-known here as
a romantic and adventurous figure
from a prominent Panamanian fam-
ily.
After traveling to Africa to par-
ticipate in the war against Portu-
guese colonialism two decades ago,
Spadafora served as public health
minister under the late and still
widely revered general Omar Tor-
rijos. Later, with backing from Tor-
rijos, he organized and led a Pan-
amanian battalion that joined the
Sandinistas in the fight against
then-president Anastasio Somoza in
Nicaragua.
Disenchanted with the Sandinis-
tas after they took power in 1979,
he joined Eden Pastora in a Costa
Rica-based guerrilla movement try-
ing to overthrow them. Spadafora
eventually fell out with Pastora,
however, and switched his alle-
giance last year to Miskito and
Sumo Indian guerrillas, also head-
quartered in Costa Rica.
Finally, his family said, he decid-
ed two months ago to abandon the
fight against Sandinista rule and
return to Panama to engage in pol-
itics against Noriega. Some reports
W4
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suggested he might have violent
struggle in mind. But his brother
Winston, a Panama City lawyer,
said Spadafora intended to oppose
the Panamanian military through
peaceful political action.
In any case, many Panamanians
began to suspect the Defense Force
had him killed, despite Noriega's
d&ials.
Oosta Rican police investigators
repotted finding witnesses who said
Defense Force troops arrested
Spadafora just after he crossed into
Panama on Sept. 13, the day before-
his body was found-in a U.S. mail
bag, according to the police ac-
count. An autopsy report said the
symbol "F8" was carved on the mu-
tilated and headless body. "F7" was
the name of a SWAT team tied to
the Defense Force that attacked
antigovernment demonstrators dur-
ing Ardito Barletta's campaign last
year, Panamanian sources said.
Armed with these indications, the
Spadafora family publicly accused
Noriega and the Defense Force.
The victim's father, Carmelo, 78,
also a former minister, told report-
ers that Noriega was behind the
killing and demanded the Legisla-_
tive Assembly name an independent
investigating commission.
Winston, the brother, began a
fast eight days ago to dramatize the
demand. His fast and the family's
demands have been daily front-page
news in La Prensa.
Ardito Barletta publicly refused
to name a commission, saying the
government judiciary already was
investigating. A well-placed political
source said, however, the president
was considering a change of mind as
he left Tuesday for the United Na-
tions. Ardito Barletta has refused to
meet with reporters since he was
forced out.
As the Spadafora drama built up
political tension, Noriega had to
deal with his Defense Force of 12,-
000-15,000 men. The commander,
who had been in Britain and France
since early September, returned
late Wednesday amid rumors that
some officers were trying to unseat
him in a barracks coup.
According to reliable sources,
Col. Roberto Diaz Herrera, the
chief of staff, had sought to organize
an anti-Noriega movement but
failed to gain enough support to
make it work. Diaz Herrera is
among a group of senior officers
scheduled for retirement this
month, the source said, and has
been reluctant to face the end of his
career.
Panamanian and foreign sources
suggested some Defense Force of-
ficers also were upset at Noriega
and Ardito Barletta for failing to
halt the accusations about
Spadafora's killing. One report said
the officers had received word that
Ardito Barletta was sounding out
legislators about the possibility of
an independent commission as de-
manded by the Spadafora family.
Noriega, eager to reassert his
leadership, began meetings with
officers and political leaders Thurs-
day, the informants said, and then
called Ardito Barletta at the United
Nations and ordered him back to
Panama. Noriega has refused to
explain his actions.
Briggs, the U.S. ambassador who
was with Ardito Barletta in New
York, urged the president to stay
put in hopes the crisis would work
out through compromise, knowl-
edgeable Panamanian sources said.
The embassy has refused to com-
ment on the accounts.
Ardito Barletta returned in the
night, arriving here about 7:30 a.m.
Friday and going into a conference
with Noriega and other officers that
ended more than 14 hours later
with his resignation.
, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201180009-4