Panamanian Family Remembers US Military Incursion: Tank & Red Car Tragedy
Here’s a summary of the provided text,focusing on the key events and information:
* The Invasion & Displacement: The Mendoza Gómez family,living in El Chorrillo,were displaced by the US invasion of Panama. They initially sought shelter in Balboa Stadium and then at the Albrook US Air Force base (now Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport).
* Return & Vandalism: After several months, they were allowed to return to their apartment on the “15th floor” of a building (likely the December 24 building pictured). Though, they found their apartment had been vandalized.
* Casualty Estimates: The invasion’s death toll is unclear, wiht estimates ranging from 300 to 3,000. The UN estimates around 500 Panamanian civilian deaths.
* Isidora’s Perspective: Isidora, a member of the family, expresses a lack of resentment, believing the invasion wouldn’t have happened if Noriega had surrendered.
* Noriega’s Fate: manuel Noriega sought refuge in the Vatican embassy (nunciature) but eventually surrendered to US forces in January 1990. He was then taken to Miami for trial on drug trafficking charges and died in prison 27 years later.
* The “15th Floor” Building: The text includes a picture of the December 24 building, referred to as “the 15 floors”, in Panama.
In essence, the text details the personal experience of a family impacted by the US invasion of panama, alongside broader information about the conflict and its key figure, Manuel Noriega.