The BBC reports that the government in Panama has launched an investigation into the United States invasion in 1989 that overthrew military strongman General Manuel Noriega.
The commission is expected to determine how many people died during the operation, and to identify them. It will also assess whether relatives of the victims deserve compensation.
Officially 514 Panamanian soldiers and civilians were killed but some local groups say the real number is closer to 1,000. Twenty-three US military personnel died.
“Panama is seeking to heal its wounds,” said the country’s vice president and foreign minister, Isabel de Saint Malo. “There can be no reconciliation if the truth is not known,” she added.
The 83-year-old Manuel Noriega is now in prison in Panama, for ordering the disappearance of dissidents during his 1983-1989 rule. He has already served sentences in the US and France
For full article, see http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36852120
Reblogged this on The Most Revolutionary Act and commented:
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George Herbert Walker Bush committed war crimes in Panama in 1989 by deliberately targeting 1000s of civilians in Panama City with firebombing. Michael Parenti has done excellent investigative work in this area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kEqm6HzZ0U
The U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 was a weapons manufacturers trade show. Sociopaths in the Bush Sr administration allowed the DOD to show off the latest in weapons technology. And they targeted civilians. This is a serious war crime. War contractors like Bechtel made millions and innocent people died.