76-09-B4
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Torrijos, Human Rights and Money Lenders[edit]
Transcript[edit]One of the most curious things about some of those who pontificate from newspaper editorials, television screens and various magazines is their double standard. They remind us of the importance of -- QUOTE -- "human rights" -- UNQUOTE -- and the violations of those rights in many nations of the world. But, for some strange reason, the nations always seem to be strongly anti-communist, or leaning to the right, or at the very least, not leftist. So it is that when the discussion turns to Panama and the future of the Panama Canal, they tell us we must rid ourselves of what they say is a last vestige of "colonialism" -- the Canal Zone; we must hurry and turn it over to General Torrijos or we will bring down on our heads the wrath of all Latin America. Let's set aside the "colonialism" argument for the moment, it's a phony one anyway; and also the matter of Latin America being unanimously against us (it isn't, by a long shot). Let's ask a few questions about some of the motives behind the big Canal treaty hullaballoo and the kind of government Torrijos runs. General Omar Torrijos (he wasn't a general then) was part of a military coup in the fall of 1968 that kicked out the elected government and sent the President, Dr. Arias, into exile. The new government suspended civil rights and disbanded the elected National Assembly. Apparently, Torrijos, who floated to the top of the military junta a few months after the coup, is afraid of what might happen if his citizens had full human rights. There hasn't been an election in the nearly nine years since the coup, and the censored press is his propaganda tool. I have an opportunity regularly to see examples of the Soviet press and the Panamanian press in translation, and there is an uncanny resemblance in the rhetoric. Uncle Sam is always pictured as a greedy ogre. Novosti, the Soviet Press Agency, has had a fully staffed office in Panama City for two years, but there isn't even a Soviet embassy in Panama. A recent issue of the American Legion Bulletin reports that the Moscow-Narodny Bank has made substantial loans to Panama City's largest hotel, and the Pacific - Atlantic Bank. But, United States money is the main prop to Terrijo's regime. A half dozen of our leading banks plus the U. S. Agency for International Development (AID) are among the lenders. Of course, the economy is inflated with Panama's national debt increasing by 33% in just one year. That leads to an ironic possibility: Some observers say Torrijos' government is near bankruptcy. This, together with the sabotage threats, could lead to U. S. bankers, corporations, and bureaucrats joining the liberals and leftists' in shouting turn over the Canal-to protect their investments. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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