U.S. to Send 1,300 Troops to Panama : Action Will Bring Total Number of GIs to Nearly 12,000

The U.S. Defense Department announced Friday that it will send 1,300 additional military personnel to Panama, bringing the total number of American troops there to nearly 12,000.

The Pentagon said the extra troops--many of whom are military police--will improve security for American bases and U.S. residents in Panama. Army helicopter units also will be included, the Pentagon said.

Meanwhile, Panamanian police replaced Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega’s heavily armed soldiers on the streets for the first time since last month’s attempted coup against the Panamanian strongman.

Intensified Campaign

The U.S. Southern Command, which is based in Panama, had about 600 security personnel among its 10,000 troopers before Washington intensified its campaign for Noriega’s removal.

Over a 10-day period that ended March 24, the Pentagon dispatched another 670 security personnel to Panama for the stated purpose of protecting military facilities.

Besides the armed forces personnel assigned to the Southern Command, there are about 13,000 military dependents in Panama and 1,300 U.S. employees of the Panama Canal Commission and their 2,600 dependents.

Limitations on movement for the Southern Command troops were decreased Friday to “alpha” level, the least strict of four restrictions.

The designation, in use for the first time since the crisis began Feb. 26, permits free movement but advises military personnel to avoid crowds and demonstrations.

Panamanians, who are predominantly Roman Catholics, took time out from political activity on Good Friday to prepare for the Easter weekend, but for many that meant only another day of hunger and shortages as a 12-day- general strike and bank closures keep even basic necessities out of their reach.

Opposition leaders said they would accept, with some conditions, Msgr. Marcos Antonio McGrath, the Catholic archbishop of Panama City, as a mediator in talks to resolve the political crisis.

Guarantees Asked

The conditions included guarantees that Noriega, the head of the nation’s 15,000-member Defense Forces and the real power behind the civilian government, would indicate a willingness to resign and to leave the country.

Police foot patrols took the place of Noriega’s soldiers, who have filled the capital since a coup attempt failed March 16.

Virtually all businesses were closed for Good Friday. A general strike called by opposition leaders eased earlier in the week, with groceries and pharmacies reopening, reportedly under government pressure.

Banks have been closed since March 3, and Panamanians who had cash appeared to be using it only for essentials. Restaurants around the capital were deserted.

Roberto Aleman, an attorney for the opposition National Civic Crusade, said the National Council of Private Enterprise, an umbrella group of several business organizations, had decided to continue the strike.

Other opposition leaders said some business executives believed that the shutdown had made its point and could be ended.

Mediation Conditions

In a letter made public Friday, three leading Noriega opponents said they would accept McGrath as a mediator in talks aimed at settling the situation only if Noriega indicated, before the negotiations, that he is willing to resign and leave the country.

The letter was signed by Alberto Boyd, coordinator of the National Civic Crusade; Ricardo Arias Calderon, president of Panama’s Christian Democratic Party, and Alfredo Ramirez, president of the Liberal Republican Nationalist Movement.

Any agreements reached during mediation would have to be guaranteed by the church, four government officials to be named later, and the presidents of Costa Rica and Panama, the letter said.

It also demanded the release of all political prisoners before talks started, and total freedom of the press.

Panama’s opposition press has been shut down for weeks.

Noriega Removal Urged

The church has called for the removal of Noriega, whose supporters in the National Legislature ousted civilian President Eric Arturo Delvalle on Feb. 26 after Delvalle tried to fire Noriega.

The United States subsequently froze Panamanian government deposits in U.S. banks in an effort to drive out Noriega. The shortage of money and a run on banks forced Panama’s banks to shut down.

The government has said it may permit banks to open for limited transactions this week, but many bank officials said that they likely will remain closed for fear of another run by depositors.

Noriega was indicted in Florida in February on drug-trafficking charges, which he denies.