Panamanian strongman dies in air crash

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 9

Panamanian strongman dies in air crash

NZPA-Reuter Panama Citv

The Panamanian strongman, Omar Torrijos, who won control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States, was killed when his National Guard plane crashed into the jungle on Saturday.

The plane went missing on a short domestic flight, and was found in the central highlands yesterday by United States Air Force troops based in the Panama Canal Zone. Five bodyguards and the pilot died with him. The burly, handsome cigar-smoking' general, who ruled Panama for 10 years, stepped down from power in 1978 after fulfilling his greatest ambition — restoring Panamanian sovereignty over the Panama Canal Zone in a treaty with the United States.

Aristides Royo took over as. president, but BrigadierGeneral Torrijos remained as commander of the National Guard and the most X

powerful man in the country. General Torrijos, who was 52, concluded an agreement in 1977 with President Carter to restore Panamanian sovereignty over the Canal Zone in the year 2000. A 1903

treaty had given the United States control in perpetuity. He stunned the nation when he announced on September 1, 1978, that he would not run for the presidential post. He said he would be "returning to the barracks.” One well-placed Panamanian source at the time said: “Torrijos was tired of being called dictator, and that was no small factor in his decision to step down and move ahead with some constitutional reforms."

General Torrijos professed to see a limited personal future. In a 1976 television interview he said his mission “is to be indispensable for the shortest time possible.”

The same interview proved tragically prophetic. “One can die violently, as a result of a crime or because the helicopter you are travelling in crashes. The most normal death for a national leader is violent death.” he said.