Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Panama votes on army Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 16:56:27 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Panama votes on army \SH Regime backs ban on military \BY John Miller \CR REUTERS NEWS AGENCY \DT PANAMA CITY PANAMA CITY - Panamanians, whose recent past was dominated by military strongmen, will decide today in a special vote whether to outlaw the formation of an army in the Central American country. The military ban is the most controversial measure in a package of 58 constitutional reforms to be decided in a referendum by a simple "yes" or "no" vote. A "yes" vote, which is backed by President Guillermo Endara, is slightly ahead in opinion polls. But supporters fear that many Panamanians will vote "no" to send a protest vote to Mr. Endara's 3-year-old government. "Some people have made the referendum appear as a chance to cast a protest vote against the government. That's a pity, but I'm afraid it's being seen that way by a lot of people," said Endara aide Louis Martinz. The referendum is Panama's second vote since U.S. troops invaded in 1989 to oust Gen. Manuel Noriega, the country's one-time "maximum leader" who is serving a 40-year prison term in the United States for drug-related crimes. Noriega's 15,000-man army was disbanded during the invasion and replaced by a national police. But there are no constitutional limits to re-establishing an army. Panamanian nationalists, irritated by the presence of 10,000 U.S. troops, argue that the country should not constitutionally ban the formation of another army while foreign troops remain on their soil. Other groups, including Noriega's former political party, add that Panama must create an army to protect the Panama Canal after it is turned over on Dec. 31, 1999. If the reforms are approved, Panama would become the second Central American country to do away with its military. Costa Rica, long a model for peace and democracy in the region, abolished its army in 1948. Under Gens. Omar Torrijos and Noriega, the military held de facto power in Panama from October 1968 to December 1989. Gen. Torrijos introduced Panama's current constitution in 1972. Most of the 58 constitutional reforms listed in the referendum are viewed as largely insignificant, including changing the name of the Legislative Assembly to the National Assembly and renaming legislators as deputies. Average Panamanians appear unable to name a single reform in the referendum package aside from the military ban. Instead, most seem to see today's vote as a referendum on the Endara government. "I'm voting 'no' because I'm tired of this government, not because I'm pro-military," said an unemployed engineer who complained that his party affiliation has kept him from acquiring a government post. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM