riot that occurred today, I have had the misfortune to have my car extensively damaged. The damage to my car, of course, is not my major concern. while driving east on Thatcher highway, unaware that this riot was in progress, was forced to drive into the midst of these Fortunatly, she escaped without injury to her In this latest incident, my wife, demonstrators. person. But I am sure that my wife's life, during this incident, was not the only one that was in danger. There were at least twenty other vehicles that were in the same position as her own, unable to escape the crowd. Certainly these other vehicles received the same barrage of rocks and stones. I wish to lodge this complaint, based on these latest and most serious incidents caused by this high official of the Panama government. Canal Zone Police Officers are expected to handle incidents, such as these, perpetrated by theives and gangsters, as a part of their normal duties. However; in doing so, they should also be able to expect a normal degree of protection within the framwork of the laws of the Canal Zone. Canal Zone residents are another matter. They have a legal right to be protected against these acts as described above. You have a responsibility to protect these people, and not just promise them protection. Governor Parfitt, can't you do anything concrete relative to this matter? If you believe that policemen have infinite tolerance, you are wrong. I promise you that Canal Zone residents, myself included, will not long stand by and watch while their family is put in danger. Many will leave, as you know, many already have. Others will take another course of action if they cannot depend upon their own government for this basic right. Lt. Colonel Noreiga is obviously above the law in the Republic of Panama. I ask you sir, is he also above the law in the Canal Zone, drunk or sober? God help the Canal Zone resident, U.S. or Panamanian that would live and work under such a system if your answer is yes! I would like a detailed answer to this letter of protest in writting. I would like to discuss this matter in greater detail with you at your earliest convenience. Policemen are greatly dismayed at the apparent lack of visible support in matters such as this. They are damned tired of having the truth hidden from the general public for the sake of diplomatic protocol. Respectfully yours, William R. Kruvine William R. Drummond RIOTS IN CANAL ZONE Mr. DRUMMOND. I think it directly relates again to our right to sovereignty in the Canal Zone. In this particular incident which happened on May 17, 1977, a Canal Zone employee, a policeman, in the act of his official capacity as a policeman, shot a thief in the leg in the Canal Zone. This particular policeman was a non-U.S. policeman. His performance was based upon by U.S. statute and regulations. Subsequent to this incident's occurrence, there was clear indication by the Canal Zone police that the Panama Government instigated, or tried to instigate, riots in the Canal Zone; in particular two Panama government officials, Elias Castillo and Domingo Barcenas. One was the corregidor and the other was the representative of the Chorrillo area. They went into a school and tried to get the kids to riot. A riot did occur. In fact, my wife was involved in it. She got the car smashed up and so forth. But the point I make here is this. Subsequent to this incident there was an article that appeared in one of the local news media, Critica, in which they cite this policeman for his actions in the Canal Zone. Specifically they request the Panama Government to cite him into court to answer for those actions. Either the United States is sovereign in the Canal Zone or it is not. Clearly, the 1903 treaty states that the Panama Government has no jurisdiction, no rights to sovereignty. The Panama Government decided they were going to cite this canal employee into court anyway. At this time I would like to include three documents which prove that that is what they did. Mr. CROMMELIN. The documents will be inserted in the record at this point. [The material follows:] |