TFPM02: PANAMA: REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 403378

FOR THE AMBASSADOR

FOLLOWING STATE 403378 DTD DEC 20 SENT ACTION ALDAC
BEING REPEATED FOR YOUR ACTION:

FOR THE AMBASSADOR

NOTE BY DO/CC: DOWNGRADED REFTEL FROM SECRET TO CONFIDENTIAL
PER STATE 403652

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PREL MARR PM
SUBJECT: TFPM02: PANAMA: REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE DEMARCHE


1. (C) THIS CABLE IS INFO FOR MEXICO CITY CARACAS,
SAN JOSE, KINGSTON, BUENOS AIRES, BOGOTA, TOKYO, SAN
SALVADOR, LIMA, LA PAZ, BRASILIA, QUITO, MADRID, LONDON,
PARIS, OTTAWA, BONN, MOSCOW, CANBERRA, AND USUN.

FOR ALL INFO ADDRESSEES EXCEPT MOSCOW: THE PRESIDENT,
VICE PRESIDENT OR SECRETARY OF STATE ARE MAKING EFFORTS
TO CONTACT THE PRIME MINISTER OR PRESIDENT OF YOUR HOST
COUNTRY DIRECTLY (IN CASE OF UN, SECRETARY WILL NOTIFY
PEREZ DE CUELLAR). INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FYI ONLY.

FOR MOSCOW ONLY: POST WILL RECEIVE SEPTEL FOR ACTION;
THIS CABLE IS FOR INFO ONLY.


2. (U) THIS CABLE IS AN IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUEST FOR
ALL OTHER DIPLOMATIC POSTS WORLDWIDE. SEE PARAGRAPHS
3,4, POST SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW PARAGRAPHS 5 AND

6.

AMBASSADOR IS INSTRUCTED TO DELIVER FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO
THE HIGHEST AVAILABLE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.


3. (U) THE FOLLOWING WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT WAS ISSUED
AT 0140 HOURS DECEMBER 20:

BEGIN TEXT:

THE PRESIDENT DIRECTED UNITED STATES FORCES TO
EXECUTE AT 1:00 AM THIS MORNING PRE-PLANNED MISSIONS IN
PANAMA TO PROTECT AMERICAN LIVES, RESTORE THE DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS, PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PANAMA CANAL
TREATIES, AND APPREHEND MANUEL NORIEGA.

THE SITUATION IN PANAMA UNDER NORIEGA HAS REACHED A
CRISIS. DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN THWARTED,
AMERICAN LIVES HAVE BEEN ENDANGERED. THE INTEGRITY OF
THE PANAMA CANAL TREATIES IS AT RISK. NORIEGA IS UNDER
INDICTMENT FOR DRUG-RELATED CHARGES. THE PRESIDENT HAS
MADE EVERY EFFORT PEACEFULLY TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION
THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES AND LATIN AMERICAN
LEADERS. NORIEGA HAS REJECTED ALL THESE EFFORTS.

LAST FRIDAY, NORIEGA DECLARED A STATE OF WAR WITH
THE UNITED STATES. THE NEXT DAY THE PDF SHOT TO DEATH
AN UNARMED AMERICAN SERVICEMAN, WOUNDED ANOTHER, SEIZED
AND BEAT ANOTHER SERVICEMAN AND SEXUALLY THREATENED HIS
WIFE. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PRESIDENT DECIDED
HE MUST ACT TO PREVENT FURTHER VIOLENCE. OUR TROOPS
WILL USE ONLY THE FORCE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE
OBJECTIVES AND WILL BE WITHDRAWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AT APPROXIMATELY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, THE
DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED LEADERS OF PANAMA--PRESIDENT
ENDARA AND VICE PRESIDENTS ARIAS CALDERON AND FORD--WERE
SWORN IN AND ASSUMED THEIR RIGHTFUL POSITIONS. THEY
WELCOME AND SUPPORT OUR ACTIONS AND HAVE STATED THEIR
INTENTION TO INSTITUTE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
IMMEDIATELY. THE UNITED STATES HAS RECOGNIZED THAT
GOVERNMENT, IS RESTORING NORMAL RELATIONS, AND WILL
COOPERATE TO REBUILD A FREE AND PROSPEROUS PANAMA. END
TEXT.


4. (C) YOU SHOULD ALSO MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

-- THE PRESIDENT TOOK THIS ACTION ONLY AFTER
EXHAUSTING EVERY AVAILABLE DIPLOMATIC AND MULTI-LATERAL
MEANS TO RESOLVE THIS CRISIS.

-- IN RECENT DAYS, THE CRISIS HAS GROWN FAR MORE
DANGEROUS. NORIEGA HAS ACTED INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE,
UNPREDICTABLE, AND DANGEROUS.

-- THE U.S. HAD INCREASING FEAR OF NEW MORE
THREATENING ACTS OF VIOLENCE DIRECTED AGAINST AMERICANS.

-- THE U.S. WILL ONLY USE FORCE AS REQUIRED TO
ARREST NORIEGA AND RESTRAIN THE PDF FROM COMING TO HIS
RESCUE. THE U.S. HOPES TO WITHDRAW ITS FORCES AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

-- THE U.S. CONSULTED WITH THE LEADERS OF THE
PANAMANIAN OPPOSITION ELECTED IN THE MAY 7TH ELECTIONS
AND THEY APPROVED OF THIS ACTION. THEY HAVE BEEN SWORN
IN AND HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY WILL BE FORMING A GOVERNMENT
IMMEDIATELY. THE U.S. HAS RECOGNIZED THIS GOVERNMENT.

-- THESE LEADERS WERE UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OBSERVERS FROM DOZENS
OF NATIONS, AS THE RIGHTFUL VICTORS IN THE PANAMANIAN
ELECTIONS. THEY WARRANT RECOGNITION BY HOST GOVERNMENT
AND THE U.S. URGES HOST GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND SUCH
RECOGNITION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL IN ITSELF
HELP STABILIZE THE SITUATION, REDUCE THE PROSPECTS FOR
ADDITIONAL VIOLENCE, AND PERMIT THE U.S. TO WITHDRAW ITS
FORCES QUICKLY.

-- THE U.S. IS FULLY COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE
PANAMA CANAL TREATIES. INDEED, ONE ADDITIONAL REASON
THE PRESIDENT HAD TO ACT WAS TO SAFEGUARD THE CANAL AND
UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF THE TREATIES.

-- THE PRESIDENT TOOK THIS ACTION ONLY AS A LAST
RESORT. HE DID SO FOR 4 REASONS:


I. TO PROTECT AMERICAN LIVES;
II. TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY;
III. TO ARREST AN INDICTED DRUG TRAFFICKER; AND
IV. TO DEFEND THE INTEGRITY OF THE PANAMA CANAL TREATIES.

-- WE HOPE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THIS
ACTION. IT IS IMPORTANT, IN PARTICULAR, THAT THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RALLY AROUND THE NEW DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT OF PANAMA, JUST AS IT DID AROUND ENDARA,
ARIAS CALDERON, AND FORD WHEN THEY WERE ATTACKED AND
BRUTALIZED FOLLOWING THE MAY 7 ELECTIONS.

-- THE U.S. INTENDS TO HELP THE NEW GOVERNMENT
RESTORE PANAMA'S ECONOMY. YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT AND WELCOME IN THIS EFFORT.

-- U.S. WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU INFORMED AS
EVENTS DEVELOP.


5. FOR NICARAGUA AND CUBA:

THE SECURITY OF YOUR DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN PANAMA IS
NOT THREATENED IN ANY WAY. THE U.S. HAS NO INTENTION TO
ENLARGE THIS ACTION BEYOND PANAMA AND WE EXPECT YOUR
GOVERNMENT TO ACT ACCORDINGLY.


6. FOR NICARAGUA ONLY:

THE U.S. REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE ESQUIPULAS, TESORO
BEACH, AND TELA ACCORDS AND TO RESPECT THE RESULTS OF A
FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN NICARAGUA NO MATTER WHO WINS.
THIS ACTION IN PANAMA SHOULD NOT DIVERT EITHER OF OUR
NATIONS FROM PURSUING A DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL
RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA. BAKER
UNQTE


BAKER