Noriega video revives controversy

LA PRENSA/Archivo

Miguel Antonio Noriega regresó a Panamá el 11 de diciembre del 2011 tras 22 años de ausencia en medio de polémicas y controversias.

10/12/2012 - A controversy has erupted over a short video of former dictater Manuel A. Noriega mocking victims of the miltary regime as he was being transferred to Panama earlier this year from France.

The video, shot in Spain, captured the former military strongman, who has spent the last 23 years in prison, making derisive comments about two of the victims, Hugo Spdafora and Moisés Giroldi.

"It is a mockery to his victims," said businessman Roberto Eisenmann.

He pointed out that not only is the behavior offensive to the victims, but also the way Noriega has been handled by authorities, who smuggled the leader into Panama.

"That the government made the arrival of Noriega a state secret also was offensive to their victims," said Eisenmann.

Alida Spadafora, sister of Hugo Spadafora, questioned the special treatment given to Noriega.

"My concern is not for Noriega, but for Panama," she said.

Miguel Antonio Bernal, who also fought against the dictatorship, noted that all the secrecy surrounding the arrival "showed a lack of respect by the government to its citizens."

Deputy Secretary of Security Manuel Moreno also appears in the video, which prompted Bernal to comment that, "These ministers have proved that they are more noriguestas than Noriega himself."