|
Torrijos, now a brigadier general, became even more firmly entrenched in
power after thwarting a coup attempted by Colonels Amado Sanjur, Luis Q. Nentzen
Franco, and Ramiro Silvera in December 1969. While Torrijos was in Mexico, the
three colonels declared him deposed. Torrijos rushed back to Panama, gathered
supporters at the garrison in David, and marched triumphantly into the capital.
The colonels followed earlier competitors of Torrijos into exile. Because the
governing junta (Colonel Pinilla and his deputy, Colonel Urrutia) had not
opposed the abortive coup, Torrijos replaced them with two civilians, Demetrio
B. Lakas, an engineer well liked among businessmen, and Arturo Sucre, a lawyer
and former director of the national lottery. Lakas was designated
"provisional president," and Sucre was appointed his deputy.
|
