Panama poll crisis worsening

Press, 11 May 1989, Page 8

Panama poll crisis worsening

NZPA-Reuter Panama City Riot police fired tear-gas and water cannon outside a house where Panamanian Opposition and church leaders met to discuss the crisis sparked by accusations of Government electoral fraud, witnesses said.

The police went into action on Tuesday after a day of rising tension in Panama, where the Opposition is accusing the military strongman, General Manuel Antonio Noriega, of rigging the results of national elections on Sunday.

White House said United States military intervention was an option if he refused. “Despite massive irregularities at the polls, the Opposition has won a clear-cut, overwhelming victory. The Panamanian people have spoken and I call on General Noriega to respect the voice of the people,” Mr Bush said.

bia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Panama. A Costa Rican Government statement issued in San Jose said: “Respect for the will expressed in the polls is a solid pillar of democracy.”

If this will is not respected, “the democratic regime (in Panama) will be gravely breached, with serious consequences for liberty and peace,” it said. About 50 police in full riot gear fired tear-gas and water cannon at some Government opponents who had gathered outside the house of Panama’s Archbishop Marcus McGrath on Tuesday evening, shortly after the Opposition presidential candidate, Guillermo Endara, arrived there, eyewitnesses said.

Opposition leaders have rejected first official poll returns showing the Government winning by a big margin and declared themselves the Govern-ment-elect.

A statement from the Venezuelan Embassy said President Carlos Andres Peres was in contact with other leaders of the Group of Eight Latin American nations to discuss common action “to guarantee respect for the will of the Panamanian people.” The group includes Argentina, Brazil, Colom-

Opposition and independent exit polls showed the Opposition won by a three-to-one margin.

The United States President, Mr George Bush, appealed to General Noriega to “honour the will of the people” and the