Anniversary of US Invasion of Panama
Today, December 20th marks the 17th Anniversary of America’s Invasion of Panama. This was the news headline of the day from my taxi-driver. I never told you this before, but he has been the one to keep me in the loop on all the parades and observances and anything else that is happening in Colon, Panama. What a repository of information he is!!
So this morning I received a first hand account of what it was like on December 20th 1989 when the American Army arrived in Colon, Panama. His version sounded like a blockbuster action movie or a Robert Ludlum suspense thriller. I had heard other versions from other members before, and the different pieces all came together in my mind. I was moved between horror and fascination. I began to imagine what it was like for the people of Colon, Panama to live through an invasion, and later in a military occupied territory.
I try to recall what I was doing then and could only recall that I was working in shipping at the time and vaguely remember seeing the news clips of the story.
He described the lawlessness and widespread looting that broke out hours just before the US Army actually came in, and of prison breaks and escaped prisoners roaming the streets, of Colon City being overrun by criminals, and how many died in the streets and their bodies put in milk-trucks (yes, milk trucks) for refrigeration, of a particular house on 5th street in Colon that I know every well, where there were actual air-strikes and how he was cowering in the basement of the building where he lived on 4th street – one block away.
A member who told me his story sometime ago, mentioned how he had to walk miles to get home from the Panama Canal, Gatun Locks where he worked. How the Invasion of Panama caught many by surprise even though they heard ‘talk’ about it – so he was out trying to get home while his wife and young children were home. Another member once told me how he was almost trapped by looters in a supermarket in the city trying to stock up on emergency supplies and how he barely escaped.
And finally, my driver mentioned how things got hard and they began to receive rations because there was no food. Everywhere was locked down in an effort to keep peace. During all this General Manuel Noriega was unrelenting. It was a long dark period but finally they got him to leave. And now It’s on the streets – people fearful of what is to come as they hear that Noriega will be returning to Panama soon! For those of you who are wondering who is General Manuel Noriega and what was his connection to the US Invasion of Panama – read here.
Now I can’t help but ask, why is it that every time some dominant or autocratic figure emerges in a country that America has problems with – there is always a history of American association and relationship with the individual? Osama Bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein comes readily to mind. Everywhere you read of General Noriega and Panama’s history – you keep seeing the historical connection pop up that he once worked with the CIA. Now if that doesn’t give one pause to think…
US Occupation of Panama
This was not a wonderful period for everyone and not everyone wanted the Americans to stay, but they were happy to be out of the oppression of one they called a tyrant. But, said my taxi-driver sometimes they wondered if they had only ‘swapped black dog for monkey’! Yes, my driver has a Jamaican mother who taught him many Jamaican sayings. And in the unique Colon way of speaking Jamaican, he went on to tell me about the Panamanian views of the American occupation of Panama.
So tomorrow I will no doubt receive an update on the fireworks that were blasted off in certain sections of Colon City. This is an annual observance. The imitation bomb blasts are a powerful reminder of a time no Panamanian wish to be repeated.
And I’m off to ponder international connections of world leaders and when national leaders ‘fall out’, the impact on the innocent. So please share your thoughts on the US Invasion of Panama.
Marvia
I am so glad you are posting a blog like this… As a young panamanian who is becoming ‘critical’ of the story of his country, i realized that many of the books we used in school,were, at best,over apologetic of what have been taking place in panama, going way back from Pirate Morgan straight up to Noriega and company…. definately as panamanians we need to enter a process of re-historizing, if this is not taking place already, i will definately support every effort in this regard…. Marvia has offered a modern and fresh way of beggining this reflective circle…. thank you for forcing people to be more critical of their stories…. I encourage that you encourage some of the members of your church to visit the page on a regular basis… challenge them to leave written responses, as i am doing…
Peace
Rogelio
Rogelio,
Thank you for visiting and coming forward to share. My members like many of my friends who visit, read but are afraid to speak publicly. So thank you for leaving a comment and I do look forward to your continued input. Some send me emails because some of the things are not really for the board. However, I would like to see more visitors to Marvia’s Panama Journal – respond to something that affected them in some way.
It is a definite challenge to people from our contexts to re-visit history. It is well accepted among certain scholars that what is understood and taught in schools as the history of that people, is in fact NOT really their history. I love how it is described by contemporary historians who engage in ‘revisionist’ historical projects.
As in the case of Jamaica, I have heard it said that what we learnt in school was not really the history of the peoples who were forcibly taken there, or invited in as migrant labourers. It was the history of the Europeans, their presence and impact on Jamaica and Africa, and how they think the early enslaved and other labour/services providers felt about or interacted with their presence. In recent years we have seen more Jamaicans coming out to re-write this history – a bit difficult given the absence of primary sources from the perspective of the Africans, Indians or Chinese communities.
Similar efforts are underway in Caribbean church history as well and we have some persons leading the way like Horace Russel and Cawley Bolt…and hear this one…Marvia Lawes. Well why not?? I want to believe (even if others might not agree) that I am contributing to this revisioning or re-historicizing project.
The same needs to be done in Panama. You should take the challenge to get involved and begin your own reflections. Make sure that whatever your are of study your reflections on the subject matter are rooted in your context.
Wishing you all the best and let’s talk some more. There are a lot of issues here for you to jump right in and help us struggle with.
Best wishes,
Marvia
Im glad that i read this post and replies, but it also bothers me, makes me kinda ashamed of myself as im a history major that does not know about the US invasion of Panama. Anyways its interesting hat this topic is raised. As there there is presently a campaign in Jamaica led by Professor Verene Sheperd (marvelous speaker) to make sure each Jamaican student has knowledge of their history. Its ashamed that most Jamaican high school dont offer history as a subject until fourth form and its optional. therefore most of them graduate without basic knowledge of their history. Hence i laud the JBU and other christian / church groups which teach history of the people they see to serve.
Knowledgeably yours (LOL)
Dimario
U.S invasions are very interesting especially when one loks at the reasons aand the contreversy which surrounds them, example vietnam. President Bush currently wants to send 21,000 more soldiers too Iraq even thoigh memeber of congress are opposing it. This makes me ask the question have the world now accepted this “concensus” that wars and guns and invasons is the ideal way to settle international disputes and conflicts. im not saying atht invasions are not completely unecassary but it seems asi fhte longtime and post-invasion effects sometimes are greater tan the issues that existed before again example vietnam.
D,
I endorse your question. No matter how we try to justify war the reasons are oftentimes, just not good enough.
As we watch the war stories unfold, we begin to see less of the first reasons presented why war was the best option. The closer we look we begin to see all kinds of other motives that after billions of dollars, and even more important – loss of lives, limbs, families..displacement and chaos, then we begin to admit we might have made a few mistakes.
Too little too late…
Marvia