of three newspapers owned by President Arias' brother, Harmodio and blackmailed the owners of the country's oldest newspaper, La Estrella de Panamá, into becoming a government mouthpiece. With enough opposition against Martinez including from the United States, Torrijos ousted and exiled Martínez and Jose Humberto Ramos to Miami on February 23, 1969, nearly four months after the initial coup. Torrijos went on to rule Panama as the de facto military dictator until his death in a plane crash on July 23, 1981. See also History of Panama References Bibliography Jasón Pérez, Brittmarie, En Nuestra Propias voces; Panamá Protesta 1968–1989, Primera Edición, Editado por la Corporación La Prensa, Impreso LITHO, Editorial Chen S.A External links Breve análisis de las causas del golpe militar en Panamá (1968) Artículo en la Página electrónica del PRD Military coups in Panama History of Panama Political history of Panama Military history of Panama 1968 in Panama October 1968 events in North America Conflicts in 1968 1960s coups d'état and coup attempts