1989 Panamanian coup attempt

Failed military coup against dictator Manuel Noriega 1989 Panamanian coup d'état attempt 3–4 October 1989 Panama Panama PDF Loyalists Panama PDF Rebels Panama Manuel Noriega Panama Moisés Giroldi Vera Coup suppressed Ringleaders executed United States invades Panama two months later The 1989 Panamanian coup d'état attempt was a failed coup d'état which occurred in Panama City on 3 October. The attempt was led by Major Moisés Giroldi, supported by a group of officers who had returned from a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.Zeballos Emilia 3 October 2014 Masacre de Albrook, en el olvido de los panameños The Albrook massacre forgotten by Panamanians http://elsiglo.com/panama/masacre-albrook-olvido-panamenos/23809906 es El Siglo 13 November 2016 14 November 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161114010533/http://elsiglo.com/panama/masacre-albrook-olvido-panamenos/23809906 dead Although the plotters succeeded in capturing Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, the coup was quickly suppressed. Giroldi and nine other members of the Panamanian Defense Forces were executed on 3 and 4 October 1989. An eleventh participant died in prison after being tortured. These events became known as the "Albrook massacre". Background Relations between Panama and the U.S. had steadily deteriorated during the 1980s, owing to concerns on the U.S. side over the safety of American nationals in Panama, the fate of the strategically important Panama Canal and Noriega's alleged involvement in facilitating drug trafficking.Tisdall Simon 28 April 2010 Why Manuel Noriega became America's most wanted https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/apr/28/noriega-panama-france-america The Guardian 13 November 2016 Under the Reagan administration, the U.S. indicted Noriega on drug trafficking charges and introduced economic sanctions against Panama, but these measures failed to achieve Noriega's resignation.May Lee 23 December 1988 Reagan, Bush Assure Delvalle: Panama's Noriega Still Must Go https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-23-mn-542-story.html Los Angeles Times 13 November 2016 A coup had been attempted in March 1988 but had failedPitt David 12 October 1989 Widow of Panama Coup Leader Says Fellow Plotter Betrayed Him https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/12/world/widow-of-panama-coup-leader-says-fellow-plotter-betrayed-him.html The New York Times 13 November 2016 and Giroldi was one of those responsible for suppressing it.Rosenthal Andrew 8 October 1989 A Failed Coup: The Bush Team and Noriega A special report. Panama Crisis: Disarray Hindered White House https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/08/world/failed-coup-bush-team-noriega-special-report-panama-crisis-disarray-hindered.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times 13 November 2016 In September 1988, another coup plot, allegedly plotted and financed directly by the United States, was said to have been foiled by Panamanian authorities with the arrest of 16 conspirators.US Plot, The Canberra Times Two days before the coup, Giroldi's wife, Adela Bonilla de Giroldi, informed United States Southern Command that a coup was imminent. This resulted in a meeting between Moisés Giroldi and two CIA agents. U.S. officials claimed that Giroldi only asked for minimal help: protection for his family and roadblocks by U.S. troops in the Panama Canal Zone at two strategic locations in order to prevent troops coming to Noriega's rescue. U.S. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney subsequently stated that the Bush administration distrusted Giroldi, fearing they were being led into a trap designed to embarrass the U.S. and also doubted Giroldi's ability to succeed and to deliver Noriega into U.S. hands to stand trial. As a result, the U.S. declined to give specific commitments on supporting the coup. Coup Giroldi initiated the coup shortly before 8 a.m. and managed to capture Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. The rebels debated delivering Noriega into American hands. This gave Noriega a window of opportunity which he used to telephone for help. Though U.S. troops did block off two roads in the Canal Zone, Noriega loyalists used Tocumen airport to by-pass this and move in troops by air. Their counter-attack led to the rebels surrendering.10 October 1989 Leader of Failed Panama Coup Is Buried https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-10-mn-258-story.html Los Angeles Times 13 November 2016 Giroldi and ten soldiers headed the coup: Captain Jorge Bonilla Arboleda; Majors Juan Arza Aguilera, Leon Tejada González, Edgardo Sandoval Alba, Eric Murillo Echevers and Nicasio Lorenzo Tuñón; Lieutenants Francisco Concepción and Ismael Ortega Caraballo; Sub-Lieutenants Feliciano Muñoz Vega and Dioclides Julio.2019-10-03 Hoy se cumplen 30 años del fallido golpe a Noriega y la 'Masacre de Albrook' https://www.midiario.com/nacionales/hoy-se-cumplen-30-anos-del-fallido-golpe-a-noriega-y-la-masacre-de-albrook/ 2020-10-04 www.midiario.com es Albrook massacre and arrests The coup participants were taken to an aircraft hangar at Albrook where they were interrogated and tortured by Noriega loyalists.Cole Ronald Operation Just Cause: The Planning and Execution of Joint Operations in Panama, February 1988 – January 1990 Diane Publishing 1996 16 https://books.google.com/books?id=JEom1HKcmNsC&q=giroldi+panama+tortured+coup&pg=PA16 21 November 2016 9780788135576 Eight of them were then executed in the hangars at Albrook,Rodríguez Olmedo 24 May 2016 Victims say Noriega has not shown remorse http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Noriega-pedido-perdon_21_4490760884.html La Prensa Panama 22 November 2016 27 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160527155348/http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Noriega-pedido-perdon_21_4490760884.html dead Giroldi and a sergeant were executed in the military barracks in San Miguelito while an eleventh participant died in prison after being tortured. These events were dubbed the "Albrook massacre" by local and international media.Diaz Juan Manuel 4 October 2015 En memoria de los caídos en la masacre de Albrook In memory of those fallen in the Albrook massacre https://www.prensa.com/judiciales/memoria-caidos-masacre-Albrook_0_4315068555.html es La Prensa 13 November 2016Johnson Tim 6 July 2015 Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega trying to get out of prison https://www.smh.com.au/world/panamas-former-dictator-manuel-noriega-trying-to-get-out-of-prison-20150706-gi5tom.html The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 21 November 201611 December 2011 El ex general sólo merece la cárcel, según los familiares de sus víctimas The ex-general only deserves jail, according to the families of his victims https://www.elmundo.es/america/2011/12/11/noticias/1323642454.html El Mundo Spain 21 November 2016 74 officers involved in the coup were sent to Coiba prison.Pitt David 7 January 1990 THE NORIEGA CASE: Noriega's Outcasts; For Panama's Inmates, a Prison Like Devil's Island https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/07/world/noriega-case-noriega-s-outcasts-for-panama-s-inmates-prison-like-devil-s-island.html The New York Times 21 November 2016 Relatives of those executed alleged that family members were subjected to persecution by the government, claiming that they had their houses raided and ransacked and had received eviction notices. Reactions Adela Bonilla de Giroldi blamed the failure of the coup on her husband's "betrayal" by another major who, she claimed, had initially backed the move but had switched sides on the day of the coup. American sources considered that the failure of the coup was due to poor planning by the rebels, miscommunication between them and the U.S. and doubt on the American side over the plotters' motives and intentions. They claimed that reasons for the failure were Giroldi's failure to provide them with contact numbers and the U.S. failure to communicate American desires to the rebels. In the United States Senate, the Bush administration received bipartisan criticism for its handling of and reaction to the coup. Democratic senator Sam Nunn, with other senators, accused Bush administration officials of being dishonest and withholding information from the Senate.Fritz Sara 6 October 1989 Senate Dissatisfied With U.S. Action in Coup https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-06-mn-666-story.html Los Angeles Times 13 November 2016 Republican senator Jesse Helms claimed that the rebels had offered to turn Noriega over to U.S. forces, but this offer had been turned down. Helms' claims were denied by Cheney. Aftermath The failure of the coup prompted "a philosophical turnaround" within the Pentagon, as U.S. military officials realised that Noriega would likely not be removed internally and that more significant U.S. involvement would be needed to dislodge him from power.Gordon Michael 24 December 1989 Fighting in Panama: The Planning; U.S. Invasion: Many Weeks of Rehearsals https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/24/world/fighting-in-panama-the-planning-us-invasion-many-weeks-of-rehearsals.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times 13 November 2016 This led to the U.S. invasion of Panama two months later. thumb |406x232px |Albrook massacre memorial, unveiled 25 October 2016.https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/Develan-monolito-caidos-Masacre-Albrook_0_965903675.html Develan monolito y placa en honor a los caídos en la Masacre de Albrook Rodríguez Reyes Irma 25 October 2016 23 November 2016 es A monolith and plaque in honour of those killed in the Albrook massacre is unveiled Telemetro For their part in the execution of Giroldi, Noriega and military captain Heráclides Sucre Medina were sentenced to 20 years in prison and banned from public service for 10 years. Evidelio Quiel Peralta, who had fled to Costa Rica, was tried in absentia and sentenced to 20 years in prison.16 April 2012 Evidelio Quiel: la extradición que no se efectuó Evidelio Quiel: the extradition that hasn't taken effect http://laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/evidelio-quiel-extradicion-efectuo/23526319 es La Prensa 13 November 2016 14 November 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161114005505/http://laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/evidelio-quiel-extradicion-efectuo/23526319 dead On 4 October 2015, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela announced the construction of a monolith in memory of the 11 victims of the Albrook massacre. In May 2016, Gabriel Pinzón, Director General of the penitential system confirmed that Noriega was to be detained until 2030 for his part in the Albrook massacre.https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/nacion/sentencia-contra-noriega-por-la-masacre-de-albrook-culmina-en-el-2030-1026024 Sentencia contra Noriega por la masacre de Albrook culmina en el 2030 Pérez Antonio 13 May 2016 21 November 2016 es Noriega's sentence for the Albrook massacre lasts until 2030 Noriega died while under house arrest in May 2017.Gen. Manuel Noriega, the former Panamanian dictator, has died at the age of 83. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/manuel-noriega-panamanian-strongman-toppled-in-us-invasion-dies-at-83/2017/05/30/9c2d77bc-0384-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html May 30, 2017 The Washington Post 30 May 2017 References 30em Category:1980s coups d'état Category:Attempted coups d'état in Panama Category:Political history of Panama Category:Military history of Panama Category:1989 in Panama Category:October 1989 in North America Category:Military dictatorship in Panama Category:Panama–United States relations Category:Presidency of George H. W. Bush