Panama Marks 32 Years Since Hezbollah-Linked Bombing as Key Suspect Faces Trial

Panama is marking the 32nd anniversary of the Alas Chiricanas bombing, the nation's most devastating terrorist attack. The 1994 incident involved the explosion of a commercial aircraft shortly after takeoff from Colón, a key commercial hub on the Caribbean coast. The flight, en route to Panama City, carried 21 people, predominantly of Jewish descent, along with Panamanian and American citizens. The attack has been linked to Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group.

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We cannot leave a case like this in the hands of justice alone, but rather by supporting it as Panamanians and auxiliaries of justice so that justice is done for those who lost their lives.

This year's commemoration comes with significant developments in the legal proceedings. Ali Zaki Hage Jalil, a suspect allegedly connected to the attack, was extradited from Venezuela to Panama in April. In June, a tribunal declared the case a complex one, granting the prosecution an additional year to complete their investigation. These steps offer a glimmer of hope for justice for the victims' families, who have long awaited a trial.

However, the path to resolution remains fraught with legal challenges. The defense for the suspect has appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to have the criminal action dismissed. They argue that the statute of limitations has expired, as more than 20 years have passed since the attack, which they claim is the maximum penalty applicable under the penal code in effect at the time.

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It is difficult to understand why. We, Panama, are a peaceful country. I don't see the reason why it had to be here. It should not be anywhere, in any country.

Basilio González, a commissioner with the Panamanian Alliance for Human Rights and a lawyer, emphasized the need for broader support beyond the judicial system. He stated, "We cannot leave a case like this in the hands of justice alone, but rather by supporting it as Panamanians and auxiliaries of justice so that justice is done for those who lost their lives." The victims' families, organized as the committee Conciencia Viva, held a ceremony in Panama City, remembering the deceased as "human beings dedicated to their work and their families, without distinction of origin or beliefs." Marta Márquez, mother of one of the victims, expressed her anguish, questioning why such an event had to occur in Panama, a peaceful country.

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justice cannot return those who lost their lives, but it can provide answers, recognition, and peace of mind to their families.