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]
González 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 Pérez Balladares, a fellow PRD member, to seek a second term in office, calling the measure's opponents "cockroaches and scorpions".[9]
In July 1992, González Vernaza's son Pedro Miguel González Pinzón 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 González Pinzón'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 González Pinzón 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] González 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]
González Pinzón 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]
Deathedit
González Vernaza died on October 21, 2006, in Panama City of a disease.[3]
^"Ha muerto Gerardo González Vernaza". Democratic Revolutionary Party. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^ abcd. El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish). EFE. October 21, 2006. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^PALABRAS LLANAS - 50 años de visión y Compromiso (1906-2006)
^James Aparicio (December 22, 1991). . Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^. Caribbean Update. October 1, 1994. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^Silvio Hernandez (September 8, 1995). . Inter Press Service News. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^Silvio Hernandez (September 27, 1995). . Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^. Sunday Gazette-Mail. August 30, 1998. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^ abcLarry Rohter (August 24, 1997). "G.I.'s Slaying in '92 Entangled in Panama's Politics". The New York Times. from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
^. The Washington Post. December 15, 1997. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
^ abMarc Lacey (November 28, 1997). "Fugitive From U.S. Justice Leads Panama's Assembly". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
^ ab. Associated Press. September 2, 2007. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
gerardo, gonzález, vernaza, april, 1929, october, 2006, panamanian, politician, from, veraguas, province, served, vice, president, panama, president, national, assembly, serving, latter, post, from, 1997, 1999, born, 1929, april, 1929veraguas, province, panama. Gerardo Gonzalez Vernaza April 13 1929 1 October 21 2006 2 was a Panamanian politician from Veraguas Province 3 He served as Vice President of Panama and President of the National Assembly serving in the latter post from 1997 to 1999 4 Gerardo Gonzalez VernazaBorn 1929 04 13 April 13 1929Veraguas Province PanamaDiedOctober 21 2006 2006 10 21 aged 77 Panama City PanamaNationalityPanamanianOccupationPoliticianKnown forVice President of Panama President of National AssemblyPolitical partyDemocratic Revolutionary Party PRD ChildrenPedro Miguel Gonzalez Pinzon Contents 1 Political career 2 Son s murder trial and acquittal 3 Death 4 ReferencesPolitical career editFrom 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 editIn 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 Death editGonzalez Vernaza died on October 21 2006 in Panama City of a disease 3 References edit Recordando a Gerardo Gonzalez V Ha muerto Gerardo Gonzalez Vernaza Democratic Revolutionary Party Archived from the original on 16 November 2012 Retrieved 16 November 2012 a b c d Fallece lider historico del PRD en Panama El Nuevo Diario in Spanish EFE October 21 2006 Archived from the original on 1 December 2008 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 Panama Caribbean Update October 1 1994 Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved 16 November 2012 Silvio Hernandez September 8 1995 Heated Debate Over Renegotiation of Canal Treaties Inter Press Service News Archived from the original on March 21 2016 Retrieved 16 November 2012 Silvio Hernandez September 27 1995 Presidential Tour Sparks Expectations and Controversy Inter Press Service Archived from the original 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 Political officesPreceded byArturo Sucre Vice President of Panama1975 1978 Succeeded byRicardo de la Espriella Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerardo Gonzalez Vernaza amp oldid 1181294114, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
