Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega’s daughter, Thays Noriega, wanted the United Nations Security Council to take stern action against Zimbabwe just before the 2008 presidential elections because President Robert Mugabe could not be rewarded for thwarting the opposition.
Her sentiments seem to have baffled United States officials who were lobbying members of the United Nations Security Council, including Panama, to condemn the violence that erupted after the disputed March 2008 elections.
The United States and Britain were lobbying to get Zimbabwe on the United Nations agenda so that the world body could impose sanctions on the Southern African country. They were also pressing for a Security Council resolution that would have allowed military intervention in Zimbabwe. But the moves were thwarted by Russia and China.
Noreiga’s daughter said it was critical for the Security Council to act because the Human Rights Council could not effectively deal with the conflict in Zimbabwe.
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was forced to pull out of the presidential race though he had won the first round in March.
Noriega’s comments seem to have baffled US officials who commented: “Noriega is the youngest daughter of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Antoinio Noriega, currently under preventive detention in Florida pending resolution of a French extradition request. In this case, the daughter’s condemnation of Mugabe’s tactics against Zimbabwe’s opposition — tactics her own father might have used — was particularly striking. Her off the cuff remark that the HRC could not be expected to respond effectively as the UNSC might was also particularly revealing.”
Below are the four cables on Panama and Zimbabwe:
Viewing cable 08PANAMA510, PANAMA: JUNE 23 MEETING ON ZIMBABWE
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VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHZP #0510 1751855
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 231855Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2203
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000510
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM UNSC ZI PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: JUNE 23 MEETING ON ZIMBABWE
REF: STATE 66915
Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian R. Naranjo. Reason: 1.4 (d)
——————————————
Panama Supports UNSC Engagement on Zimbabwe
——————————————-
¶1. (C) “Panama fully supports (UK PM) Gordon Brown’s recent
statement regarding the violence in Zimbabwe,” Panamanian MFA
UNSC Advisor Janio Tunon told POL Fellow on June 23. Now
that the opposition had pulled out of the upcoming elections,
MFA UNSC Team ExecSec Thays Noriega told POLCOUNS that it was
even more important for the UNSC to take action so that
Mugabe “could not be rewarded for collapsing the opposition.”
Panama supported a PRST on Zimbabwe, both Tunon and Noriega
said, but was interested in hearing what South Africa would
have to say in private before the June 23 public meeting.
Panama intended to make a national statement as well, both
confirmed. Noting that the Human Rights Council was in no
position to deal effectively with the growing conflict in
Zimbabwe, Noriega said that it was all the more critical that
the UNSC act. Noriega said Panama would support making
Zimbabwe an agenda item for the Council.
——-
Comment
——-
¶2. (C) Noriega is the youngest daughter of former Panamanian
dictator Manuel Antoinio Noriega, currently under preventive
detention in Florida pending resolution of a French
extradition request. In this case, the daughter’s
condemnation of Mugabe’s tactics against Zimbabwe’s
opposition — tactics her own father might have used — was
particularly striking. Her off the cuff remark that the HRC
could not be expected to respond effectively as the UNSC
might was also particularly revealing.
EATON
Viewing cable 08PANAMA541, PANAMA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SUPPORT FOR UNSC
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VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHZP #0541 1842013
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 022013Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2236
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000541
SIPDIS
STATE FOR: WHA/CEN (E.TELLO),
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM UNSC PM ZI
SUBJECT: PANAMA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SUPPORT FOR UNSC
RESOLUTION ON ZIMBABWE
REF: A. STATE 69693 AND
¶B. PANAMA 529
Classified By: ADCM TOM MESA, REASONS 1.4 (d)
POL delivered reftel demarche to Panamanian MFA Security
Council Advisor Janio Tunon on July 2nd. Tunon stated that
the MFA Security Council advisors would review and submit the
text of the draft resolution to Panama’s mission in New York.
As stated in POL’s discussion with MFA (reftel B), Tunon
reaffirmed that the GOP remained concerned with the
increasing violence in Zimbabwe and agreed that dialogue
between Zimbabwe’s opposition and Mugabe was necessary to
solve this issue. Tunon reiterated that Panama would like to
see South Africa play a more aggressive role and pressure the
Government of Zimbabwe to end violence and engage in dialogue
with the opposition.
EATON
Viewing cable 08PANAMA563, PANAMA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED FOR UNSC RESOLUTION ON
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHZP #0563 1911903
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091903Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2264
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000563
SIPDIS
IO/UNP-REBECCA GOLDENBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
SUBJECT: PANAMA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED FOR UNSC RESOLUTION ON
ZIMBABWE
REF: SECSTATE 73173
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS BRIAN R.NARANJO REASON: 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) “Panama will be with the United States”, Panamanian
MFA Senior Advisor for UNSC matters Nils Castro reaffirmed to
POLCOUNS on July 9th in response to reftel demarche on
Zimbabwe. Furthermore, he stated that Panama supported a UNSC
Chapter VII Resolution and did not want to debate the
“cosmetics” of the resolution because “now is the time to
act.” Castro underscored Panama’s hope that South Africa
would get on board and that China and Russia would not block
adoption of a Chapter VII Resolution.
¶2. (SBU) POL double tracked delivery of this demarche with
working-level contact Janio Tunon.
MESA
Viewing cable 08PANAMA569, PANAMA: CONFIRMED SUPPORT FOR UNSC RESOLUTION ON
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Created |
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Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO5110
OO RUEHTRO
DE RUEHZP #0569 1931548
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 111548Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2272
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000569
SIPDIS
IO/UNP REBECCA GOLDENBERG AND IO/PSC JEAN CLARK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2018
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: CONFIRMED SUPPORT FOR UNSC RESOLUTION ON
ZIMBABWE
REF: STATE 74375
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS BRIAN R. NARANJO REASON 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) On June 9, Charge d’Affaires spoke with First VP and
FM Samuel Lewis. Lewis confirmed that Panama would vote in
favor of the UNSC Chapter VII Resolution.
MESA
Viewing cable 08PANAMA436, PANAMA: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHZP #0436 1491954
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281954Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2106
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0350
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0211
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0269
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0234
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 0099
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0228
UNCLAS PANAMA 000436
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: PANAMA: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 55816
Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Panamanian First VP
and FM Samuel Lewis on May 28, but did not receive any
substantive response or reaction. Post will follow up with
MFA contacts and report any subsequent reactions septel.
EATON
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