Noriega seeks House Arrest relatives of victims oppose

Manuel Noriega’s Lawyer, Ezra Angel, has formally requested that Noriega be considered for house arrest due to his current health condition. Recently, Noriega was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which has since worsened. While surgery is imminent for 82 year old Noriega, no date has been set.

One of Angel’s pleas for the former dictator was that in accordance with national law, after 70 years of age no person should be detained. Another justification for the application was the state’s inability to provide the necessary care.

“We hope that the judge resovles, safeguarding the health and life of a person, regardless of who is involved,” said Angel.

Noriega, detained in El Renacer prison was extradited to Panama on December 11, 2011 from France. During the Noriega regime among other crimes committed, was the beheading of Dr Hugo Spadafora in 1985. There were also numerous disappearances. Noriega has been behind bars since the US invasion of Panama in 1989. Before that he was on the CIA payroll until a falling out with President George Bush.

Some relatives of victims have already opposed the petition, which called for Noriega’s jail cell to be changed to house arrest.

Maritza Maestre, member of the committee of relatives of victims of the military dictatorship explained that she disagreed with Noriega being granted house arrest as he has not cooperated with the recovery of the remaining victims. Maestre said Noriega has a lot of information on people who were killed and went missing during the dictatorship, and that he should be forced to turn over that information.

Susana Ortega, daughter of Captain Ismael Ortega, who died during a coup attempt against Noriega on Oct. 3, 1989, has said that if the court decides to grant house arrest, she and her relatives will not oppose the decision. However, Ortega does not feel that Noriega deserves this luxury, since at no time has he shown repentance for deaths and damages he caused.

“Noriega is responsible for many crimes, tortures and disappearances during the military dictatorship and he has never repented for any of it” she said.