From 1975 to 1978, Gonzalez Vernaza was the Vice President of Panama under
Demetrio B. Lakas
. In 1979, he helped found the
Democratic Revolutionary Party
of military ruler
Omar Torrijos
.
[3]
In December 1991, serving as the president of the PRD, he vigorously criticized the administration of president
Guillermo Endara
, stating that "in 24 months, Endara has lost his political and moral authority, demonstrating his incapability to lead Panama."
[5]
He also opposed Endara's ultimately successful measures to abolish Panama's armed forces.
[6]
Gonzalez Vernaza opposed the presence of US forces in Panama past the 1999 deadline for withdrawal set by the
Torrijos-Carter Treaties
for the handover of the
Panama Canal
.
[7]
[8]
He campaigned in favor of a constitutional referendum that would have allowed President
Ernesto Perez Balladares
, a fellow PRD member, to seek a second term in office, calling the measure's opponents "cockroaches and scorpions".
[9]
In 2004, Gonzalez Vernaza was elected as a Panamanian representative to the
Central American Parliament
.
[3]
Son's murder trial and acquittal
edit
In July 1992, Gonzalez Vernaza's son
Pedro Miguel Gonzalez Pinzon
was accused of the murder of
US Army
Sgt. Zak Hernandez, who had been shot to death in his
Humvee
, and a warrant was issued for Gonzalez Pinzon's arrest. According to a lawyer for the US Embassy, three witnesses stated he was present at the scene, while others saw him and two accomplices in the stolen car used in the shooting. The car was later found on a farm owned by his father.
[10]
The US
Federal Bureau of Investigation
matched an AK-47 from the attacks was found on the farm as well,
[11]
while
Scotland Yard
and the Panamanian police did not find the AK-47 to match the bullets from the shootings.
[12]
Though an arrest warrant was issued for Gonzalez Pinzon shortly after the murder, he evaded arrest for more than two years, reportedly spending part of this time in Cuba. In 1995, he surrendered directly to new President
Ernesto Perez Balladares
on live national television, accompanied by his father.
[10]
Gonzalez Vernaza stated that the unusual circumstances were needed "to avoid an attempt on the kid's life". He accused the previous Endara administration of "judicial terrorism" and stated that under the Perez Balladares administration, his son could receive a fair trial.
[10]
Gonzalez Pinzon was acquitted by a Panamanian court in 1997, though he remained wanted in the US, where he had been indicted by a grand jury.
[13]
He later followed in his father's footsteps, serving two terms in the National Assembly and becoming its president despite US protest in September 2007.
[12]
[13]
Gonzalez Vernaza died on October 21, 2006, in
Panama City
of a disease.
[3]
- ^
"Recordando a Gerardo Gonzalez V"
.
- ^
"Ha muerto Gerardo Gonzalez Vernaza"
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2012
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a
b
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d
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.
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(in Spanish). EFE. October 21, 2006. Archived from
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. Retrieved
16 November
2012
.
- ^
PALABRAS LLANAS - 50 anos de vision y Compromiso (1906-2006)
- ^
James Aparicio (December 22, 1991).
"Endara's status slips in Panama"
.
Chicago Sun-Times
. Archived from
the original
on March 4, 2016
. Retrieved
16 November
2012
.
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.
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. October 1, 1994. Archived from
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on September 24, 2015
. Retrieved
16 November
2012
.
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"Heated Debate Over Renegotiation of Canal Treaties"
. Inter Press Service News. Archived from
the original
on March 21, 2016
. Retrieved
16 November
2012
.
- ^
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"Presidential Tour Sparks Expectations and Controversy"
. Inter Press Service. Archived from
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on April 9, 2016
. Retrieved
16 November
2012
.
- ^
"Vote today could set canal's future"
.
Sunday Gazette-Mail
. August 30, 1998. Archived from
the original
on November 19, 2018
. Retrieved
16 November
2012
.
- ^
a
b
c
Larry Rohter (August 24, 1997).
"G.I.'s Slaying in '92 Entangled in Panama's Politics"
.
The New York Times
.
Archived
from the original on November 3, 2012
. Retrieved
November 8,
2012
.
- ^
"Outrage in Panama"
.
The Washington Post
. December 15, 1997. Archived from
the original
on June 11, 2014
. Retrieved
November 8,
2012
.
- ^
a
b
Marc Lacey (November 28, 1997).
"Fugitive From U.S. Justice Leads Panama's Assembly"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
November 8,
2012
.
- ^
a
b
"Top Panama Lawmaker Sought in U.S. Death"
. Associated Press. September 2, 2007. Archived from
the original
on January 21, 2016
. Retrieved
November 8,
2012
.