The infamous dictator who became the victim of an infamous situation. Manuel Antonio Noriega was military ruler of Panama having worked his way up the ranks promoting himself to full general in 1983 until his ousting in 1989. A close ally of the United States and being on the payroll of the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, he was protecting US interests within the central American states. This alliance was soon to take a downturn after Noriegas refusal to give in to Americas demands that he provide military support to Nicaraguas rebel movement the Contras. He had been indicted on drug charges and various cases of human rights abuses during his rule and following election cancellations first in 1984 and 1989, both of which he tried to install puppets and continue to rule, the US began a campaign to oust him and after the killing of a US marine in Panama, plans were underway for a full fledged US invasion. America launched a five day siege in which they lost 23 personnel and finally captured Noriega who had taken refuge in the Vatican Embassy in Panama, which international Law forbade America from invading. America this used some rather bizarre means to get him to surrender including loud rock music and using the surrounding area as a helicopter landing zone. He was then captured and flown to the US. The US invasion was condemned by the UN. In April 1992, Noriega was sentenced on eight counts of drug trafficking, racketeering and money laundering and was sentenced in September to 40 years in prison but was released in 2007 after which France got its request for an extradition and sentenced him to jail in July 2010 for various offences which included murder. He was however released in September 2011 to serve a further jail term in Panama.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 06:20:57 +0000
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