Others know the truth that Noriega did not want to reveal
Apart from the lack of justice, those who lost family members in the military dictatorship (1968-1989) feel impotence for not knowing the truth about the events that occurred during those years.
- Actualizado: 10/6/2017 - 08:33 am
Apart from the lack of justice, those who lost family members in the military dictatorship (1968-1989) feel impotence for not knowing the truth about the events that occurred during those years.
After Manuel Antonio Noriega´s death, it was thought that this chapter bad been closed, but it turned out to be otherwise, as the anxieties of those claiming for the truth that would give them resignation to have deepened.
According to the report of the Truth Commission created during the Government of Mireya Moscoso to investigate the wounds left behind by the military regime, there were 76 murders and 40 forced disappearances, during that 21 years.
Maritza Maestre, representative of the Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons (Cofadepa-HG), was clear in saying that we must not turn the page because there are other people, civilians and former militaries, who know the truth.
She urged that that accomplice silent should already be set aside. "Whoever knows something, talk, if it is true that they feared Noriega".
She explained that in other countries, people speak out so that history is written and documented, and even recalled that there are some legal processes that have to be open.
"The truth can clarify many things. The State makes fun of us whenever we sit down at the table of understanding. If there is no truth and justice, we cannot lead the country into a true democracy, which does not yet exist", she made clear.
Aurelio Barría of the defunct Civilian Crusade, meanwhile, argued that there are remnants of political will to make decisions, which is creating suspicions, frustration and indignation in a society that cannot find answers to the questions.
He warned that the political administration in Panama, in contrast to other countries, is slow, with little or no interest, where it would seem to exist a sort of an impunity armor protecting the most egregious cases of Panama.
"Unfortunately, that is the reality, thus I urge Panamanians to demand concrete fair actions from the organs of justice to investigate all those people who have pending cases", he said.
He stressed that there was not enough time for the truth to be told, after the death of the main protagonist of the military regime.
Another relative of a dictatorship victim that was hoping for Noriega come back after the surgery was the brother of the Rita Wald Jaramillo, who disappeared in 1977.
"I thought that on viewing and confronting her death, Noriega would feel compassion and give details, not only about my sister, but about other crimes in which he was the cornerstone," said Edwin Wald Jaramillo.
He explained that he (Noriega) was directly responsible for hundreds of deaths and disappearances that still today are not clarified because Panamanian justice is being an accomplice in everything that happened and has never really wanted to investigate.
"Corruption and not justice prevailed after the invasion. Noriega did not kill alone; his accomplices, his executioners, subordinates and all judges and prosecutors who had been in the country obeyed him", said the brother of the student leader.
Journalist Ruben Murgas, confidant of the former Strongman, is the argument that it is very easy to speak ill of Noriega and blame him for all the murders that occurred.
"Noriega, it was loading all the mistakes of democracy. They believe that everything has to do with evil people is wrong", he said.
Murgas warned that the case of Hugo Spadafora was poorly managed by the Panamanian justice.
He told that when the former General returned to Panama, he asked that this process was opened, but authorities denied it is.
"There are things that should be know, where many people are silent and have things to say," he said.
According to the journalist, Noriega was ready to tell his whole on film, but unfortunately he did not make it.
Meanwhile, retired Colonel Roberto Díaz Herrera said that each of them has to write their own story in the clearest way possible because many times, human beings hide things.
He explained that while he could die, the trigger that made him speak was the macabre beheading of Spadafora.
"We forced to United States to reassess their relationship with Noriega and negotiate with him," he said.
He made it clear that only Noriega is being judged, but there are also other people who, indeed, must say things because there are stories which have not been disclosed.
Díaz Herrera considers that this death should mean an example to others who lost the fear to He who created everything, because they end up very badly and their families scarred.
"In the end, all these amounts and accounts remain in the hands of others; Today we have a painful moment morally speaking", he said.
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