OBITUARIES : Arnulfo Arias Madrid; Ex-Panama Leader

Arnulfo Arias Madrid, who long dominated civilian politics in Panama even though deposed from the presidency three times by the military, died here Wednesday, an official said. He was 87.

Arias had been living in exile in Miami and “died of a heart attack at his home,” said Roberto Dominguez, Panama’s consul here.

Arias feared returning to Panama because of his opposition to the nation’s military ruler, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, Dominguez said.

“If he had gone back, the military would have killed him,” said Dominguez, who also opposes the Noriega government.

Family members who answered the phone at Arias’ home but refused to give their names said Arias’ body was to be put on a flight to Panama City on Friday. They plan to bury him at Panama’s Central Cathedral on Monday, which would have been his 88th birthday, they said.

Arias was president of Panama in 1940-41, 1949-51 and for 11 days in 1968. Each time, he was ousted by the military.

The last coup led to the long domination of the Panamanian government by the military, first under Gen. Omar Torrijos, who died in a 1981 plane crash, then under Noriega.

Arias continued to speak out, in 1986 accusing the military of killing opposition leader Dr. Hugo Spadafora, who had accused Noriega’s government of involvement with drugs.

Noriega has been indicted in Miami for drug trafficking.