Page 97 - Anatomy-of-a-Fraud

“Silverio Alfonso Brown Turton enjoyed considerable
celebrity on the day he appeared in a photograph published by
39

a local newspaper (La Prensa), submachine gun in hand and
firing away, near the Legislative Palace. Although Silverio was

not indicted for these events, where several people died amidst
great political confusion, he was regarded as a member of a
political commando group defending UNADE supporters.

All evidence indicates that Silverio did in fact participate in
political activities but only as a cover for his criminal
endeavors”41.

The case thus came full circle, exposing the lies of UNADE leaders and
proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that the events of May 7 were carried out by
hoodlums belonging to the “PRD Special Commando” and enjoying the protection of
the Defense Forces. It was all part of the strategy aiming to make Barletta president at
any cost.

The city was spared further outbreaks of violence between May 7 and May
30, although during this period ADO did organize several marches, demonstrations,
and automobile caravans to protest the electoral fraud. It should be emphasized that
these acts took place despite the lack of massive advertising, since radio stations and,
of course, the ERSA newspapers and television channels totally shut out the opposition.
Besides, the word FRAUD was taboo and was never mentioned in any of the
government-controlled media. The only incidents that took place during this time were
the arson, by persons unknown, of the Radio Hit transmission tower in Colón and the
sabotage of La Voz de Panamá’s equipment in Panama, which silenced the two radio
40
stations available to the opposition. Ya and La Prensa were the only two news media
that carried word of these demonstrations. But despite the conspiracy of silence so
carefully orchestrated by the regime, despite the threat that PRD stormtroopers would
at any time he let loose again, even though power and telephone services were out for
several days at ADO headquarter, the people actively participated in these almost
spontaneous protests against the fraud and in support of the ADO presidential ticket.
On more than one occasion, upwards of 10,000 people participated in these gatherings,
while thousands more cheered from balconies and sidewalks. See exhibit 40.

39 Crítica, August 7, 1984, page 17.
40
After harassing it throughout the campaign, the authorities finally silenced La Voz del Barú, in
Chiriquí, through resolution 396 dated July 4, 1984, confirming all the provisions of resolution 22,
issued on June 4, 1984. Both resolutions were issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice,
controlled by the Liberals but one more agency of the Defense Forces.