‘Bloodied but unbowed’ former Vice-President dies in Panama

The Panamanian whose  beaten and  bloodied, image went around the world during  demonstrations against Panama’s military dictatorship, died in Panama Saturday, March 19.

Guillermo (Billy) Ford ,  who went on to become Vice-President in the first post US Invasion, government died at his home in Panama. He was 74.
He was the founder of a non militant party, Molirena, and was  a staunch opponent of military rule that ended in December 1989.

In the May 7 1989 elections Ford was a Vice-Presidential candidate  while Guillermo Endara , was running for president. They ran against Manuel Noriega's candidate Carlos Duque at a time when The U.S. Government gave $10 million to the Endara campaign. {jathumbnail off}

The election results were annulled by the Government. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter present as an observer,  denounced Noriega, claiming the election had been "stolen"..Noriega supporters replied  that the elections had already been tampered with when the United States backed the Endara-Ford campaign.

The 1989 election  was also marred by the military detaining and harassing the political opposition, seizing their property and forcing them to leave the country.  Journalists and members of opposition were also detained without  charge.

During public demonstrations with protesters waving white handkerchiefs, Noriega unleashed  his “Dignity” Battalions to suppress demonstrations.

They attacked Ford's car. and his bodyguards were shot and killed. As Ford attempted to flee he was beaten repeatedly with a metal pipe. An image caught on video went around the world and made the front cover of Time  (May 22, 1989)  The leader of the battalions, appointed by Noriega, was Benjamin Colamarco, who became  Minister of Public Works under former President Martín Torrijos.

After the Invasion, the Endara government was installed and Ford was a Vice-President until 1994.

The funeral will be at the Metropolitan Cathedral at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 22.