ID DOC: 207344
FECHA: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
FUENTE: Secretary of State
PRIVACIDAD: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
REFERENCIA: VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #0240 1352127
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 152114Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 4789
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS STATE 050240
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PM
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON RESPONSE TO DIPNOTE 231/09 ON VICTIMS
OF OPERATION JUST CAUSE
REF: PANAMA 94
1. (SBU) Summary and Action Request. This cable provides
guidance, as requested in reftel, for Embassy Panama to
respond to Diplomatic Note 231/09 from the Panamanian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Please deliver the
followingresponse to the MFA.
2. (SBU) Begin text:
(Complimentary Opening) and refers to the Ministry,s
diplomatic note AJ. 231/09 concerning claims in connection
with the U.S. military action in December, 1989. In
response, the Embassy is pleased to provide the
following information:
The U.S. Department of State has raised this matter with
appropriate offices in the U.S. Department of Defense. The
Embassy understands that claims were presented to the U.S.
Army Claims Service by a number of Panamanian citizens
following the 1989 U.S. military action ("Operation Just
Cause"). The Embassy further understands that claims were
evaluated on a case-by-case basis and paid, if determined to
be incident to non-combat activities of the U.S. Armed
Forces, but that claims for damages resulting solely from
combat activities were not paid. Lawyers for Panamanian
claimants were advised that there is no U.S. legal authority
to pay damages for claims arising out of Operation Just
Cause, except as they were incident to non-combat activities
of the U.S. Armed Forces. The U.S. Foreign Claims Act does
not authorize payment of claims for damages resulting from
combat activities. If the attorney on behalf of whom the
Ministry is inquiring represents specific persons who wish to
know the disposition of any claims that were previously
filed, it is suggested that she contact the U.S. Army Claims
Service with specific information regarding the claim (date
filed, name of claimant, damage claimed, etc.). She may also
wish to consult competent counsel in the United States
regarding other questions she may have.
In this connection, the Embassy wishes to draw attention to
the fact that this issue also should be considered in the
broader context of the substantial U.S. assistance programs
for Panama that were established following Operation Just
Cause. In particular, the U.S. Congress appropriated $420
million in Economic Support Funds in support of Panama in May
1990, and the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) allocated those funds to economic recovery, private
sector reactivation, and development projects. Please note
that the development projects included a project to fund
replacement housing and living allowances for households in
the El Chorrillo District of Panama City and in other areas
where housing was damaged during Operation Just Cause and
included a project in support of the rehabilitation of the
"24 de Deciembre" apartment
complex that suffered damage during Operation Just Cause.
Although information concerning these U.S. assistance
programs for Panama may be available from a number of
sources, the Embassy wishes to draw the Ministry,s attention
to several reports on this subject issued by the U.S. General
Accounting Office (now the U.S. Government Accountability
Office) during the period 1990-1993, which are readily
available on the U.S. Government Accountability Office,s
website.
The Embassy hopes that this information will be of assistance
to the Ministry. (Complimentary closing)
End text
CLINTON
Contenido patrocinado
Últimas noticias
