Manuel NORIEGA (Noriega Manuel)

(p. 1938)
Born February 11, 1938 in Panama in a poor family of immigrants from Colombia. He was educated at the military academy in Lima (Peru). In 1968, while serving in the Panamanian National Guard, Noriega supported by General Omar Torrijos, during a coup that toppled President Arnulfo Arias. In 1969 he was appointed head of army intelligence, the CIA was simultaneously an informant. After the death of Torrijos in a plane crash in 1981, Noriega was appointed Chief of General Staff of the armed forces under the new military ruler of Panama, Dario Paredes. In 1983, became commander of the National Guard, and soon the actual head of state.
In the presidential election of 1984 won Noriega protege Nicolas Ardito Barletta. In the same year, Dr. Hugo Spadafora, who served with Noriega with Torrijos, accused him of drug trafficking. Spadafora's body was found decapitated and placed in the bag for the mail in Costa Rica in September 1985. In June 1986 'New York Times' reported that the CIA information Noriega had to Spadafora murder, drug trafficking and money fraud. Prosecution Noriega of drug trafficking in June 1987 by the former chief of staff, Colonel Roberto Dцґaz has led to massive street demonstrations under the slogan of the resignation of dictator. Noriega declared a state of emergency and suspended the Constitution.

In February 1988, Noriega was officially charged in the United States in extortion, money laundering and the use of Panama as a transit point of the international drug trade. Parts of the U.S. army during "Operation Just 'in December 1989 broke the resistance forces loyal to Noriega. February 3, 1990 Noriega was arrested. In April 1992, Noriega was convicted on eight counts of 40 years in prison. In March 1999 the term of imprisonment was reduced to 30 years, he was also allowed to apply for a pardon in 2007 under the condition of good behavior in prison.