White House Voices Outrage at Noriega Violence in Panama : ‘There Are Limits to Our Patience,’ Fitzwater Warns

President Reagan’s chief spokesman expressed outrage today at violence against anti-government marchers, opposition leaders and American journalists in Panama and said “there are limits to our patience.”

While restating that it has been U.S. policy not to intervene militarily, spokesman Marlin Fitzwater also said, “It has always been a principle that we will protect American citizens as best we can.”

“We are all angry at this latest demonstration, at people being beaten and threatened,” Fitzwater said.

“I just want to express the outrage of all of us about this incident.”

Fitzwater said several Americans were beaten and detained Monday night when riot police burst into the Marriott Cesar Park Hotel, Panama City’s largest, as opposition leaders were about to hold a news conference.

Regime’s ‘True Colors’

The Americans have been released, but an unknown number of Panamanians remain in detention, he said.

Fitzwater said at his daily news briefing that most injuries to the Americans “do not appear too serious” but he said a Los Angeles Times reporter he did not identify may have been more seriously hurt.

(Times Mexico City bureau chief Dan Williams is the only Times reporter now working in Panama. Despite widespread reports to the contrary, he was not injured Monday although he was struck a glancing blow on the wrist by a police sergeant wielding a billy club. His report on the raid appears on Page 6.)

Fitzwater said the regime of Panamanian strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega “is showing its true colors. It is desperate and afraid of its own people and the free press.

“The people of Panama as well as the leaders arrested yesterday have demonstrated their determination to take on the Noriega regime, despite these heavy-handed efforts at intimidation,” Fitzwater said.

Advice to U.S. Citizens

“The thousands of Panamanians who braved tear gas, skin-irritant sprays and birdshot yesterday show that intimidation will not solve Noriega’s problems.”

The spokesman said the United States continues to recommend that American citizens defer travel to Panama, and that those who do go there or live there avoid political gatherings and exercise caution.

The United States has imposed economic sanctions on the Panamanian government in an effort to oust Noriega, who has been indicted by two federal grand juries in Florida on drug smuggling and racketeering charges.

Today, most stores in the capital remained firmly shuttered, their owners apparently unfazed by the violent government crackdown.

More than 90% of the stores were closed in support of a general strike now in its second week. The strike’s organizers say it will last until Noriega leaves the country.