Former Panama Dictator Manuel Noriega Dies

Manuel Noriega, the former military dictator of Panama, passed away on Monday, May 29, at the age of 83. Current President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, confirmed Mr. Noriega's death on his Twitter account. Mr. Noriega underwent brain surgery last Esfand and subsequently suffered a hemorrhage that worsened his condition. Manuel Noriega was born in 1934 in Panama City, the capital of Panama. His parents abandoned him at the age of five, and he was raised by his aunt. Mr. Noriega took over the military coup government of Panama in 1981 and officially seized power as the leader of Panama in 1983. His rule was marked by violent repression of opponents and reports of their disappearances. The geostrategic importance of Panama, due to the Panama Canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, led to close relations with the United States. However, the warm relations did not last long, and the U.S. cut off financial and military support to Panama, seizing the country's assets in the United States. In 1989, a U.S. court indicted Mr. Noriega for extortion, money laundering, and drug trafficking, leading President George H.W. Bush to order military intervention in Panama at the end of that year. U.S. military forces easily captured Panama, and Manuel Noriega sought refuge in the Vatican Embassy. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration forces surrounded the Vatican Embassy, setting up powerful loudspeakers around the embassy that played rock music loudly 24 hours a day. Mr. Noriega endured this situation for only 10 days before surrendering. He spent about 17 years in prison in the U.S. before being transferred to France to serve time there as well. The former dictator was returned to Panama in 2011 to serve house arrest in his home country.