Dignity Battalions
Encyclopedia
The Dignity Battalions were paramilitary
combatants created by Panama
's military government in the 1980s to help train workers and farmers to defend Panama against invasion
by the United States. At the Panamanian presidential elections of 7 May 1989, Guillermo Endara Galimany
, along with vice presidential candidates Ricardo Arias-Calderon and Guillermo "Billy" Ford ran against Manuel Noriega
's candidate Carlos Duque. The U.S. Government openly gave $10 million to the Endara campaign and election results were annulled by the Panamanian Government on May 10. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
, there as an observer, denounced Noriega, saying the election had been "stolen". Noriega advocates complained that the elections had already been tampered with when the United States backed Noriega's opposition by funding their campaign.
Another factor that adversely affected the 1989 electoral process, as reported to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, was the predicament of various political leaders who had been forced to leave the country. The Government of Panama adopted a practice of detaining and harassing the political opposition, seizing their property and forcing them to leave the country. This reprehensible government conduct prevented a major group from participating in election activities and thus gave the government coalition an advantage. Many journalists and members of the opposition were detained for long periods without being charged.
Amid the outcry, Noriega unleashed his Dignity Battalions to suppress demonstrations. In an image caught on video and played out in news sources around the world, they attacked Billy Ford's car. Ford's bodyguards were shot and killed. Billy Ford attempted to flee as one member of the Dignity Battalions pummeled him repeatedly with a metal pipe. This image, displayed on the front cover of the May 22, 1989 TIME magazine, brought worldwide attention to Noriega's regime.
The other two presidential candidates were also severely beaten.
The leader of the battalions, appointed by Noriega, was Benjamin Colamarco, former Minister of Public Works (2006) under President Martín Torrijos
' administration.
General Maxwell R. Thurman
said, referring to the Dignity Battalions, "I am looking inward because I have the security responsibility for all Panama therefore I don't want the dingbats blowing their way through the embassy." The nickname also appears in a number of other sources.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
combatants created by Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
's military government in the 1980s to help train workers and farmers to defend Panama against invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
by the United States. At the Panamanian presidential elections of 7 May 1989, Guillermo Endara Galimany
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
, along with vice presidential candidates Ricardo Arias-Calderon and Guillermo "Billy" Ford ran against Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
's candidate Carlos Duque. The U.S. Government openly gave $10 million to the Endara campaign and election results were annulled by the Panamanian Government on May 10. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, there as an observer, denounced Noriega, saying the election had been "stolen". Noriega advocates complained that the elections had already been tampered with when the United States backed Noriega's opposition by funding their campaign.
Another factor that adversely affected the 1989 electoral process, as reported to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, was the predicament of various political leaders who had been forced to leave the country. The Government of Panama adopted a practice of detaining and harassing the political opposition, seizing their property and forcing them to leave the country. This reprehensible government conduct prevented a major group from participating in election activities and thus gave the government coalition an advantage. Many journalists and members of the opposition were detained for long periods without being charged.
Amid the outcry, Noriega unleashed his Dignity Battalions to suppress demonstrations. In an image caught on video and played out in news sources around the world, they attacked Billy Ford's car. Ford's bodyguards were shot and killed. Billy Ford attempted to flee as one member of the Dignity Battalions pummeled him repeatedly with a metal pipe. This image, displayed on the front cover of the May 22, 1989 TIME magazine, brought worldwide attention to Noriega's regime.
The other two presidential candidates were also severely beaten.
The leader of the battalions, appointed by Noriega, was Benjamin Colamarco, former Minister of Public Works (2006) under President Martín Torrijos
Martín Torrijos
Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino is a Panamanian politician and the former President of the Republic of Panama.Torrijos was elected President on May 2, 2004...
' administration.
"Dingbats"
In a 1989 interview with the New York Times, United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
General Maxwell R. Thurman
Maxwell R. Thurman
Maxwell Reid Thurman was a U.S. Army general, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and former commander of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command....
said, referring to the Dignity Battalions, "I am looking inward because I have the security responsibility for all Panama therefore I don't want the dingbats blowing their way through the embassy." The nickname also appears in a number of other sources.