During the rule of military leader Manuel Noriega, Arias was an opposition leader with the Civic Democratic Opposition Alliance, and in October 1989 was briefly arrested for urging citizens not to pay taxes to his government.
During the rule of military leader Manuel Noriega, Arias was an opposition leader with the Civic Democratic Opposition Alliance (ADOC). In October of that year, Arias was briefly arrested for urging citizens not to pay taxes to his government.