José Antonio Remón Cantera
| José Antonio Remón Cantera | |
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Statue of José Antonio Remón Cantera outside of HQ of the National Police of Panama
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| 16th President of Panama | |
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In office 1 October 1952 – 2 January 1955 |
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| Preceded by | Alcibíades Arosemena |
| Succeeded by | José Ramón Guizado |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Antonio Remón Cantera 11 April 1908 Panama City, Panama |
| Died | 2 January 1955 (aged 46) Panama City, Panama |
| Political party | National Patriotic Coalition |
| Spouse(s) | Cecilia Pinel |
| Profession | Military, Politician |
Colonel José Antonio Remón Cantera (11 April 1908 – 2 January 1955) is 16th President of Panama from 1 October 1952 until his death in 1955. He belonged to the National Patriotic Coalition (CNP).
He joined the National Police in 1931, becoming its chief in 1947. In this position, he was responsible for the coup against acting president Daniel Chanis Pinzón.
Beginning in 1953, his administration began to negotiate amendments to the Panama Canal treaty with the U.S. administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. These negotiations led to an agreement, ratified in 1955, that substantially raised the annual annuity paid to Panama (from $430,000 to $1.9 million) and resulted in the handover of approximately $20 million in property from the Panama Canal Company to Panama.
General José Remón was the man behind the scenes of several coups that ousted Dr. Arnulfo Arias from power, and arguably the true founder of the social reforming militarism that was later dubbed "Torrijismo" after General Omar Torrijos. "Neither millions nor alms – we want justice" was Remón's most memorable statement of principles. Remón went on to be elected President of Panama in 1952.
On 2 January 1955, Remón was ambushed at a race track and fired upon by an unknown number of assailants with sub-machineguns. The incident took place at 7:30 pm; Remón died in hospital two hours later. Two other men were killed in the attack, including one of Remón's bodyguards.
The circumstances concerning Remón's death were mysterious. During the initial investigation, an American, Martin Irving Lipstein, was arrested, but later released when Rubén O. Miró, an attorney, confessed to the crime on 12 January 1955. Lipstein also had an alibi, with several witnesses having seen him in places far away from the racetrack at which Remón was killed (the Hipódromo Juan Franco), at about the same time.
In his confession, Miró claimed that he had been acting on orders from José Ramón Guizado, who had succeeded Remón as president. Guizado was removed from his post and arrested on 15 January, and convicted of complicity on 29 March.
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