Panama is in mourning 36 years after the U.S. invasion. President José Raúl Mulino reaffirmed his government's commitment to 'full democracy' to prevent a repeat of the 'sad' episode. Panamanian musician Rubén Blades called it 'inconceivable' that after 36 years, the exact death toll from the 1989 U.S. invasion is still unknown. He cited a 'shame and reluctance' to publicly discuss the matter. The executive secretary of the 'December 20, 1989' Commission, José Luis Sosa, estimated the number of victims likely does not exceed 1,000. The commission, created in 2016, has identified 236 victims and is investigating 206 disappearances. The U.S. invasion, codenamed 'Just Cause,' ousted dictator Manuel Noriega. While U.S. documents list 516 deaths, unofficial estimates in Panama range from 500 to 4,000 civilians killed. Blades wrote, 'To remember is to honor, and to honor is to protect our freedoms.'
