High Panama Diplomat Resigns

WASHINGTON — The second-ranking Panamanian diplomat at that country’s OAS mission today announced his resignation, saying he could no longer in good conscience serve a government “characterized by corruption, illegitimacy and dishonesty.”

Lawrence Chewning Fabrega told a news conference his decision was prompted by a speech he was ordered to give three days ago during a ceremony at the Organization of American States. He said the speech did not represent his own sentiments. In the speech, Chewning had accused the U.S. government of waging a campaign of “moral and economic aggression” against Panama for the purpose of bringing down the government.