86 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
86 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
'''The Civic Crusade '''in [Panama](Panama "wikilink") was a movement
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against the[dictatorship of Manuel
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Noriega](Noriega_Dictatorship "wikilink") from [1987 to
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1989](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Central_America "wikilink").
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## Background
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Panama's military dictatorship began in 1968 when [Omar
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Torrijos](Torrijos_Dictatorship "wikilink"), a populist general, led a
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coup and against the democratic government and promoted a mixture of
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populist and nationalist policies. Although he repressed dissent, he did
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create a plan for allowing municipal elections in 1980 and presidential
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elections in 1981. However, he was killed (likely assassinated) in a
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plane crash in 1981, and the subsequent elections were tainted by
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widespread allegations of fraud and soon General Manuel Noriega took
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power by force. Noriega's dictatorship worked with the
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[CIA](CIA "wikilink") in the [Contra
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War](Contra_War_\(Nicaragua\) "wikilink") in Nicaragua, engaged in drug
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trafficking, was deeply corrupted and kidnapped, tortured and often
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killed dissenters.
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## Events
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At first, the family of dissenter Dr. Huge Spadatora organised small
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protests and religious observances in protest, but these quickly faded.
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However, in June 1987, Noriega forcibly retired his Chief of Staff, who
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became an outspoken opponent of the regime accusing Noriego of
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assassinating Torrijos, electoral fraud, drug trafficking and selling
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visas to [Cuban exiles](Cuban_Exiles "wikilink"). Discontent grew and
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the National Civic Crusade (CCN) was created by various businesses,
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trade unions and activist groups. They organised several [capital
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strikes](Capital_Strike "wikilink") and daily protests were held despite
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the government killing several protesters.
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As the demonstrations spread, the government responded by declaring a
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state of emergency, suspending constitutional rights, and instituting
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censorship. The government threatened to arrest those involved in the
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protests and seize the property of businesses that joined in the strike,
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closed the schools and [universities](University "wikilink"), and
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unleashed a virulent propaganda campaign accusing its opponents of being
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linked with [United States
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interests](Timeline_of_US_Imperialism "wikilink") that wanted to abort
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the [Panama Canal](Panama_Canal "wikilink") treaties. Soon the Catholic
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church joined in criticising the government but refused to formally
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endorse the CCN. Periodic protests, strikes, and demonstrations
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continued throughout the second half of 1987. Besides the CCN, many
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labor unions, women’s associations, and medical associations also staged
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protests. Relations with the USA deteriorated rapidly as the government
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charged the US embassy with supporting the opposition An attack on the
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embassy by a mob and the arrest of United States diplomatic and military
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personnel by the government led to a suspension of military assistance
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and increased economic sanctions by the United States. The CCN attempted
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to organise elections in [1989](Revolutions_of_1989_-_1992 "wikilink")
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and they were shut down by Noriega who soon declared war on the USA,
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leading to a [US invasion](US_Invasion_of_Panama_\(1989\) "wikilink")
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which halted the movement.\[1\]
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## Results
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Although the movement was cut short by the US invasion, it is notable
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that after the invasion, Panama has held free elections since, is
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considered to be the eighth most democratic country in the Americas
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(after [Canada](Canada "wikilink"), [Uruguay](Uruguay "wikilink"),
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[Costa Rica](Costa_Rica "wikilink"), [Chile](Chile "wikilink"),
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[USA](United_States_of_America "wikilink"), [Trinidad and
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Tobago](Trinidad_and_Tobago "wikilink") and
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[Colombia](Colombia "wikilink"))\[2\], scores high on human
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development\[3\] and has abolished its military.
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## See Also
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- [Revolutions of 1989 - 1992](Revolutions_of_1989_-_1992 "wikilink")
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## References
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<references />
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1. [Global Nonviolent Action
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Database](Global_Nonviolent_Action_Database "wikilink") -
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[Panamanians campaign to overthrow dictator (The Civic
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Crusade), 1987-1989](https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/panamanians-campaign-overthrow-dictator-civic-crusade-1987-1989)
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2. [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") - [Democracy
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Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index)
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3. [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") - [List of countries by Human
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Development
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Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index) |