Panama Paper Attacks U.S. Envoys and Kin

PANAMA CITY — A pro-government newspaper Thursday published a supplement containing the names and photographs of Panama-based U.S. Embassy personnel and some of their dependents and accused them of “starving us to death.”

The supplement in the newspaper Critica, which serves as a propaganda organ for the regime of strongman Manuel A. Noriega, said that the Americans “think the walls of their embassy are impregnable.”

Spokesmen at the embassy called it a significant escalation of a harassment campaign by Noriega, who is commander of the Panama Defense Forces and controls the civilian government.

Noriega has been indicted on drug-trafficking charges in the United States, and the Reagan Administration has imposed economic sanctions on Panama in an effort to force him out.

‘Paramilitary Groups’

“We take this seriously,” embassy spokesman Terence Kneebone said.

“Saying ‘Panamanians, these are your enemies,’ and putting it in a very shrill way in front of a public in which there are known paramilitary groups is not a very wholesome thing to do. Combined with the rhetoric, it is cause for concern.”

A 10-foot-high fence of iron bars surrounds the grounds of the embassy on seaside Balboa Avenue, and the embassy building is about 25 yards from the fence, within easy reach of projectiles from the street.

The front page of the 36-page supplement shows photographs of the embassy building, Ambassador Arthur Davis and John Maisto, deputy chief of mission. It says in bold print: “Panamanian: Know the gringos who are starving us to death.”

A preface to the list said: “These are the ones who think the walls of their embassy are impregnable, that their computers are infallible.