Trauma from US invasion continues

PANAMA CITY, Panama — More than three decades after the United States invaded Panama, the families of victims continue to suffer from the wounds inflicted by the tragic event.

Among them is Trinidad Ayola, president of the Association of Relatives and Friends of the Fallen on December 20, whose husband was killed by US invasion forces.

She says the pain and injustices of the 1989 military incursion will always haunt her.

Families suffered both emotionally and financially during the invasion, she said, detailing how the dead were denied proper burials and the population was prevented from accessing their bank accounts.

"Remembering the invasion is very unpleasant because all this tragedy comes to mind, the absence of our relatives ... It will always feel like it was yesterday. I have to live with that pain all my life," Ayola said.

The US invasion of Panama, dubbed "Operation Just Cause" by Washington, began on Dec 20,1989, and continued into January 1990, with the stated objective of capturing Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega on charges of drug trafficking and organized crime.

More than 26,000 US troops participated in the operation, which resulted in Noriega's arrest and the dissolution of the Panamanian Armed Forces. The invasion significantly impacted the history of the Central American country, causing an undetermined number of victims and political fallout.

The association Ayola leads is dedicated to honoring and remembering the victims of the invasion, supporting their families and seeking justice and recognition for their loss.

It organizes commemorative events, community activities and campaigns to raise awareness of the victims' sacrifices while advocating for official recognition of the damage and reparation for the loss.

Keeping memories alive

Ayola has dedicated 34 years of her life to ensuring her husband and all those killed in the invasion are remembered. Keeping their memories alive, she said, is the great struggle of the families of the victims, along with managing the cross-generational psychological and emotional scars that persist in their children and surviving relatives.

"Many children were psychologically impacted ... over time, the impact comes to light," she said.

The trauma of missing persons is another lasting wound that continues to plague Panama.

"Still today, there are many missing persons on the list whose bodies have not been found," Ayola said, noting that families continue the painful task of identifying the remains of their loved ones, often hoping for DNA matches.

Unfortunately, the process is fraught with obstacles, ranging from a lack of personnel to a scarcity of resources to continue the search.

For many Panamanians, the military intervention was nothing more than an excuse to reassert US control over the Panama Canal and the region.

Rolando Murgas, president of the December 20 Commission, a group investigating the truth behind the invasion, believes "the invasion ...aimed to crush all of our past demands and national dignity".

Despite the uphill battle, the victims' relatives have not given up on their demands. In recent years, they have made significant progress on the historical record.

In 2022, after decades of struggle, the Panamanian government declared Dec 20 a National Day of Mourning, which was a significant achievement for Ayola, Murgas and many others.

Xinhua