Maduro Invokes Prisoner-of-War Status, Echoing Panama’s Noriega
The New York Times••nation
Key Points:
- Nicolás Maduro declared himself a prisoner of war during his first federal court appearance in the U.S. after being captured in a military operation in Venezuela.
- Maduro's declaration echoes the defense strategy of Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, the last Latin American leader seized by U.S. forces, who also claimed prisoner of war status.
- Noriega's approach allowed him to wear a military uniform at trial and receive special prison accommodations, including a private cell with amenities and restricted contact with other inmates.
- Noriega was captured in 1990, tried and convicted in Miami on drug trafficking and racketeering charges, and served time in a uniquely comfortable federal prison facility in South Florida.
