Panama’s Delvalle Goes Into Hiding : Ousted President Flees Guarded Home Just Before Military Orders His Exile

The deposed president of Panama, Eric A. Delvalle, slipped away from his home and went into hiding Saturday, hours before the military here moved to order him into exile, U.S. and Panamanian sources said.

Relatives and friends of Delvalle said that he secretly departed his ranch-style house near Panama City’s financial district about midnight, eluding a military cordon that had been set up around his residence late Friday.

In Washington, Juan B. Sosa, Panama’s ambassador to the United States and a firm supporter of the ousted president, said that Delvalle “has gone underground . . . to carry on the fight.”

Leave by Noon

Saturday morning, Panamanian army officers visited Delvalle’s home to order him to leave the country by noon, the sources said.

“The soldiers arrived too late. He was already gone,” said Jaime Aleman, a close associate of Delvalle.

U.S. officials here and in Washington confirmed that Delvalle had disappeared from his home, but they were not sure whether he meant to remain in Panama indefinitely or flee into exile.

The government of President Manuel Solis Palma, the newly appointed civilian figurehead in the regime of Gen. Manuel A. Noriega, Panama’s military strongman, did not respond directly to Delvalle’s move underground.

However, Channel 2, the military-run television station, interrupted a program of horoscope readings by a man in a sequined cape to announce that Delvalle could have been kidnaped from his residence by U.S. “agents, who then surreptitiously” flew him out of the country from one of the American military bases near the Panama Canal.

Delvalle’s move underground forms part of a building conflict over who is to be recognized as the legitimate civilian leader of Panama.

Delvalle was ousted from office by the National Assembly last week, after he tried to dismiss Noriega as commander of the Defense Forces of Panama, the nation’s sole military and police organization.

The same session of the assembly, dominated by the pro-military Revolutionary Democratic Party, appointed Solis in Delvalle’s place. Solis, who was minister of education in Delvalle’s Cabinet, is Panama’s sixth civilian president in seven years.

Noriega, who has headed Panama’s 15,000-member Defense Forces since 1983, is the effective ruler of Panama, as his predecessors had been since a coup d’etat in October, 1968.

U.S. Still Supports Delvalle

Delvalle maintains that he is still president of Panama, and the United States is supporting him in that claim.

In Washington, the Organization of American States decided after hours of debate to recognize Solis’ emissary--not Delvalle’s--as Panama’s legitimate delegate to that body. The permanent council of the OAS seated Noriega-backed envoy Roberto Leyton over the objection of U.S. Ambassador Richard T. McCormack. (Story on Page 6.)

For the past eight months, Noriega has been battling persistent internal opposition. Opponents and former associates have accused him of running a criminal empire from his post as the country’s top military leader. Noriega has strongly denied all accusations.

Opposition to the military strongman picked up steam last June, and since then, the United States has been trying to find a way to ease him out of power. Moreover, last month two federal grand juries in Florida returned indictments against Noriega on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering.

Delvalle’s whereabouts remained a mystery Saturday night. U.S. officials here said they had “no knowledge” whether Delvalle might have sought refuge in any of the American installations in Panama.

The United States, charged under the Panama Canal treaties with defense of the strategic waterway until Dec. 31, 1999, operates army, navy and air bases near the canal under agreements with the Panamanian government. It has been something of a tradition for out-of-favor Panamanian politicians to take refuge in U.S.-controlled areas of the country.

Families Seek Refuge

American officials confirmed that at least three relatives of Delvalle took refuge Saturday in the residence of the U.S. ambassador here. In addition, the wife of the country’s former vice president, Roderick I. Esquivel, who was removed from office along with Delvalle, also took refuge in the residence.

Esquivel went underground at an undisclosed location Saturday, relatives told The Times.

Friends of Delvalle who gathered at his home Saturday declined to describe how Delvalle escaped, fearing that his accomplices might be jeopardized. That Delvalle would even try to sneak past military guards who had barricaded his street runs counter to his long-time image as a rather weak and indecisive politician. Delvalle also has a history of heart disease, his family said.

Exile Not Uncommon

If Delvalle should choose to go into exile, he would be following a long line of politicians. Travel abroad is a common solution to political quarrels in Panama. No one at Delvalle’s home, where the barricade had been lifted by midday, was surprised that the government had planned to order Delvalle out of the country.

“That is what usually happens in such a situation,” said Jose Manuel Paredes, a close associate.

Paredes said that about 2 a.m. Saturday, he received a call from Col. Guillermo Wong, a subordinate of Noriega’s, asking for help in getting Delvalle to agree to leave Panama.

Paredes accompanied Wong to Delvalle’s home at 8 a.m.

“Wong felt it would be better to have a friend of Delvalle give him the message,” Paredes said. Until Friday, Paredes was the director of Air Panama, the government-operated airline. He was fired in the aftermath of Delvalle’s overthrow.

Diplomatic Backing Sought

The Panamanian government has begun to look for diplomatic support for the appointment of Solis to the presidency.

In Panama City, Foreign Minister Jorge Abadia invited foreign diplomats to his office to explain his government’s position. According to diplomats here who attended the morning session, Abadia tried to convince them that Delvalle’s ouster was legal.

Meeting Boycotted

U.S. Embassy officials boycotted the meeting and only 12 of the 29 accredited embassies and consulates sent representatives, although it was not clear that the absentees had stayed away on purpose.

“This meeting was called hurriedly,” said Klaus Meixaer, the No. 2 officer in the West German Embassy here.

Meixaer added that his own presence did not necessarily indicate recognition by Bonn of the Solis government. “I have to wait for instructions,” he said.

Panama City was otherwise quiet Saturday. Stores appeared to be open as normal. Groups opposed to Noriega, united in the self-styled Civic Crusade, have called for a commercial strike beginning Monday. Success is far from certain; many merchants say they are afraid their businesses might be damaged if unrest breaks out.

Media Closures

Moreover, opposition newspapers have been closed by the government as has a leading radio station that has been critical of the regime. The shutdowns have made it more difficult for the crusade to organize a strike.

Noriega’s opponents assert that the nation’s independent television stations are refusing to air their messages. The government closed down a television station owned by Delvalle after he was removed from office.

The government has also apparently indirectly threatened to permit looting of businesses that close. The government-owned newspaper La Critica quoted a member of the ruling Revolutionary Democratic Party as saying that “a closed business is a business that will be taken over.”

Church Remains Cautious

The Roman Catholic Church, which has gingerly criticized the government in the past, appears to be maintaining its cautious approach.

Panamanian bishops issued a letter Saturday that will be read at church services today. The letter calls for “an end to this long night” in Panamanian history.

It appeared to suggest that Noriega step down, but that he not be prosecuted.

“We do not look for vengeance,” the letter said. “We should permit ways out with forgiveness.”