76-08-A4
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Panama
TranscriptI'm not going to talk about the Panama Canal -- just Panama and what has happened to freedom there. I've received a copy of a family Christmas letter written by a Panamanian -- now a refugee in the United States -- to an American friend. I'll read as much of the letter as I can, omitting for obvious reasons, anything which might be a clue to his identity. He says there are absolutely no civil liberties, and violations of human rights are a daily occurrence. Then his Christmas letter goes on. "A year or so ago a large group of private sector organizations held a public meeting, inviting all top government officials to discuss private sector problems. "That same night, Omar Torrijos (Panama's dictator) returned from Cuba. He listened to the tapes of the public meeting (in today's Panama every conversation seems to be secretly recorded), and immediately ordered the expatriation of 14 leaders of the private sector organizations. (President of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Cattlemen's Association, etc.). "A few days later, as I drove my children to school, an unmarked car violently crossed in front of mine and two armed members of government goon squads jumped into my car. I was allowed to drop the kids off, and as they screamed in horror and dismay, I was QUOTE disappeared -- UNQUOTE. "At the same moment, the same violent type arrests were being carried out in another 13 Panamanian homes, of men who had dared be critical of governmental policy. We were secretly held, searched, photographed, pushed, shoved and yelled at for six hours. No accusations. No interrogations. All family inquiries turned away alleging they knew nothing of our whereabouts. We were then put on a Panama Air Force plane with armed guards. Destination unknown. "Five hours later we arrived in Ecuador, where for 45 days we were virtually under house arrest. Newspaper accounts accused us of economic conspiracy and of being friends with the U. S. A meeting held to protest our expatriation, at the Panamanian Businessmen's association, was roughed up by government goons with knives and rocks. Later the association's building was confiscated. "Arrests and expatriations have continued but now include women and children, who have been severely beaten and tortured. This has been a shocking experience. As a businessman not involved in politics, one normally feels this will never happen to me. But the protection of Democracy and Liberty is a job for all, and, as our experience shows, affects all! "Today, we are finally together again and living our exile in your country with an even deeper conviction of our principles, with a hope that the freedom loving people of these United States demand of their government a morality in foreign policy that will terminate the support of the repressive Panamanian dictatorship. This will permit us, through our own efforts to regain our Liberty, and to restore a true democracy to our beloved Panama." I hope he gets his wish. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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