Dear Friends of Patrimonio Panamá:

Next year, precisely on the 9 th of January, 2014, are met 50 years since the events known in Panama as the patriotic deeds of 9 th of January, 1964. This date is crucial in the history of the consolidation of Panamanian identity, in the abolition of the exclusion zone of the Panama Canal formerly known as, “The Canal Zone” thus restoring the country's sovereign integrity, and the transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama. The Citizens Movement for the Strengthening of Panamanian Identity, in which I belong, presented to the National Assembly of Panama a Citizens' Initiative for the 9 January every year, become by Law, the Day of National Sovereignty, with appropriate commemorations. Although the citizen initiative presented went on to become Bill Draft No. 669 of 2013, approved on Third Debate and sent to the President for assent and promulgation over thirty days ago, that has not yet come to pass.

(Edition of automatic translation is in progress) The construction of the Panama Canal, between 1904 and 1914, It was a titanic work. I wish nothing diminish the merits of any of the groups involved in its construction: Americans, afroantillanos, Chinese, Latin, Panamanians, European and other. His life and effort led to the great work. However, the cost to the young republic of Panama, Founded in 1903 even in the economic and human consequences of the devastating War of a Thousand Days, was unusual. The signing of the Hay-Bunau Varilla, also known as the Isthmian Canal Convention, divided into three parts the country, providing a central strip of sea to sea that stretched five miles from the centerline where after the Panama Canal would be located, domain in perpetuity to the United States. In other words, Panama was divided into three pieces, Canal Zone to be the central piece disposed in perpetuity to use and manage U.S.. The Canal Zone was in fact, a colonial enclave in the twentieth century, which was administered to himself outside the Panamanian jurisdiction with its own rules. Inclusive, Panama City, capital of the republic, was cystic but not included within the enclave, although it was subject to its rules (health and construction, for example) for decades. The Canal Zone established a strong segregationist component, where payrolls Gold Roll for “whites”, and Silver Roll, for those “colors” also determined the services, housing facilities and other privileges or lack thereof, for workers in the great work. This included the system of commissaries, with separate entrances for each payroll, and whose supply excluded local merchants (Panama Panamanian-based). European (Greeks, Italian, Spanish and other) They were on the payroll Silver Roll. Some of the Creole elite Panamanian employees in the Canal Zone were on the payroll Gold Roll, no doubt to appease local partners. The Canal Zone maintained its own postal system, passports, license plates and other signs of autonomy, under an American Governor. The Canal Zone legally existed until the second half of the twentieth century.

Returning to 9 th of January, 1964, understandable resentment by ordinary Panama by the existence of the Canal Zone and its apartheid system. Since its inception, Panamanians were upset, even visible in the architecture of the city of Panama, constricted between the Canal Zone and the sea (a corridor for the city expansion was enabled by the second decade of the twentieth century), and which had lost its deepwater port: anchorage of Isla Perico, that became part of the Causeway. The original building of the National Assembly of Panama and the most important school of the time, the National Institute, were built beside the edge of the Canal Zone, a line that became a street called Avenida 4 July, and now known as the Avenue of the Martyrs. During and in the vicinity of this same avenue in the Panamanian side, cabarets and brothels were located, activity prohibited in the Canal Zone and sought by the Americans in such places.

The National Institute is the protagonist of 9 th of January, 1964, although not the only, as this was a popular struggle. The fact is that President John F. Kennedy (E.E.U.U.) y el President Roberto Chiari (Panamá) signed the Agreement in Chiari-Kennedy 1963, which ordered the Panamanian flag hoisted in public places within the Canal Zone, where previously only the American flag was hoisted. In 1964, the governor of the Canal Zone Robert Fleming, and the inhabitants thereof (called zonians), They missed the Chiari-Kennedy Agreement. Students of the National Institute, middle school, peacefully organized to enforce the Agreement Chiari-Kennedy. They informed the Panamanian Foreign Ministry of its intention to go to the Canal Zone, specifically Balboa High School, who was also a high school, to raise the Panamanian flag on the grounds of Balboa High School. Duly authorized, the delegation of students and teachers walking entered the Canal Zone carrying the Panamanian flag used by the National Institute for big feasts, including embroidered national emblem at its center.

The result was an immense tragedy. Now to go against the Administration Building of the Panama Canal, Zonian authorities decreased the size of the delegation to be allowed access to the grounds of Balboa High School (Balboa Highschool). Six students advanced with the Panamanian flag, escorted by police from the Canal Zone. In the grounds of Balboa High School were confronted by Zonian students accompanied by their parents. The Zonian civilians attacked six Panamanian students and tore the Panamanian flag.

This attack sparked the ire of Panamanians. Violence escalated quickly, extendiéndose to Panama, where Panamanians fled assaulted by zonians, their police and finally, the U.S. Army. This invaded Panama City and opened fire on protesters. Quickly other Panamanian groups joined what had become a battle for the defense of Panama, and there was battle in the city of Columbus, terminal homologous inter-oceanic route in the Atlantic Ocean. Panama had no army. Of the dead and wounded, I do not offer numbers, but the Martyrs 9 th of January, 1964 that name Martyrs Avenue twenty-one people were. Among themselves, there were men, women, children.

Panama broke diplomatic relations with the United States of America following the events. The feat of 9 th of January, 1964 opened the way for the signing of the Torrijos-Carter 1967, which allowed the disappearance of the Canal Zone and the reversal of their land to Panama, nationalization of the Panama Canal, and the dismantling of the U.S. military bases not only in the Canal Zone, but in different areas of the country.

To further explore the events on 9 th of January, 1964, I offer you this link to an article written by historians Celestino Araúz and Patricia Pizzurno: The 9 th of January, 1964. A simple search on Google should bing up for you many more sources. This link on Slideshare (click here) is educational material for the classroom, presented by Professor of International Affairs Briseis Allard Olmos, of the University of Panama. The cover of LIFE, who reviewed the events in its issue of 24 th of January, 1964, I turned it over to the world. Although the U.S. approach insisted that it was unjustified brawls, and even promoted by communists, due to pressure on the Organization of American States (OAS), opened the door to reconciliation between Panama and the United States of America, agreeing that included renegotiating the Panama Canal treaties. In these negotiations the Panamanian diplomat shone, Ambassador representative of Panama to the OAS, licensed Miguel J. Moreno Jr., until the Moreno-Bunker Statement 12 March 1964. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson opposed the declaration, overruling its ambassador to plead against accepting conditions for negotiating with Panama and noted that there was still no talks between the presidents of both countries (Arauz and Pizzurno 1996: 473). Panama remained strong according to Moreno-Bunker Statement, bringing another round of negotiations that culminated in a Joint Declaration signed by Miguel began J. Moreno Jr. y Ellsworth Bunker en Washington, on the 3 th of April, 1964, agreeing to restore diplomatic relations, designate special ambassadors to resolve the causes of conflict, and that they would begin their work immediately to reach a fair and equitable agreement for both countries. This was the door that once opened, allowed the negotiations over the next decade led to the negotiation of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties and the return of the Canal Zone and to Panamanian jurisdiction. The Araúz and Pizzurno historians refer extensively to interventions Moreno in his book, Studies Panama Republican (Arauz and Pizzurno 1996: 467-475).

Home iconic LIFE magazine, 24 th of January, 1964. Source: Internet.

Despite the extraordinary importance of the harrowing events that I have described very briefly, on the 9 January, although it was declared National Mourning Day by Act No. 13 of 30 th of January, 1967, is not adequately celebrated in their proper perspective, as are other dates. Many see this inexcusable neglect the fear of offending the United States, that is one of the major trading partners of Panama, and whose influence has continued to feel, to the ends of the Panama Invasion 20 December 1989 (Operation Just Cause) it took by force the entire country to extract Manuel Antonio Noriega, emplanillado former Panamanian dictator and drug trafficker CIA, now imprisoned in the prison of La Joya. To rectify this omission, the Citizens Movement for Strengthening Identity Panamanian labor provided by Dr. Ana Elena Porras to the National Assembly, a citizens' initiative for the purpose of stating the 9 January Sovereignty Day, it can not be said bridge day, to ensure that the memory historical date, on the 9 January I celebrated it mandatory in both public offices and schools by either debates, conferences, murals, essay contests, oratorical and artistic exhibitions.

The citizen initiative was presented to the National Assembly on 12 July 2013. He went on to become the No Bill. 27 of 12 July 2013, declaring 9 January each year Day of National Sovereignty, subrogated Law 13 of 30 th of January, 1967, and amending Article 46 Labour Code, prohijado by the Education Commission, Culture and Sports, of the National Assembly. The 21 October 2013, Bill said No. 27 was referred to the President of the National Assembly to be subjected to First Debate. The Draft Law No. 27 became the Bill Project Number. 669 of 21 October 2013, declaring 9 January each year Day of National Sovereignty, subrogated Law 13 of 30 th of January, 1967, and amending Article 46 Labour Code. It was approved in First, Second and Third Debate, the latter 23 October 2013.

The following images show the text adopted in Third Debate in the National Assembly, and waiting to be signed by the President of the Republic of Panama, and promulgated in the Official Gazette of Panama. It covers only as law from its enactment. So far today, Wednesday 18 December 2013, President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli B., has not enacted the text signed in Digital Official Gazette of Panama.

Bill Project Number. 669 de2013. Page 1 of 2. Source: National assembly.

Bill Project Number. 669 de2013. Page 2 of 2. Source: National assembly.

I conclude this entry Heritage Panama with the names of the Martyrs 9 th of January, 1964.

Ascanio Arosemena
Ezequiel Gonzalez Meneses
Estanislao Orobie
Victor Manuel Iglesias
Gonzalo Crance Robles
Teofilo de la Torre
Alberto Oriol, Jr.
Rodolfo Benítez Sánchez
Victor Manuel Garibaldo
Ricardo Murga
Rosa Elena Landecho
Maritza Alabarca
Rogelio Lara
Jacinto Palacios Cobos
Vicente Bonilla
Jorge Enrique Gil
Constant Nicolas Alberto
José del Cid
Lizardo Saldaña Haven
Renato Lara
Celestino Villareta.

Peace to the tombs of heroes, that honor their memory alive.

Regards,

Katti Osorio
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Note:
The text of the Bill not. 669 of 2013, your scanned image by the National Assembly, and all its related information are public and freely accessible on the website of the National Assembly of Panama.

References
1. National Assembly of Panama
2013 Bill Project Number. 669 of 21 October – declaring 9 January each year Day of National Sovereignty, subrogated Law 13 of 30 th of January, 1967, and amending Article 46 Labour Code. Labour Legislativa / Projects. Electronic document, http://www.asamblea.gob.pa/, Viewed in December 2013.
2. Araúz, Celestino and Patricia Pizzurno
1996 Studies Panama Republican (1903 – 1989). First Edition. Manfer, S.A., Colombia.

Other sources used:
3. Panama Canal Authority
1999 Treaties between Panama and the United States. In, Nationality Library Collection Flight. 8.
4. Goodin, Melva Lowe de
2012 African descent in the Isthmus of Panama 1501 – 2012. Society of Friends of West Indian Museum of Panama (SAMAAP), Panamá.
5. Newton, Velma
1995 Men's Silver Roll – West Indian Migration to Panama 1850-1914. Society of Friends of West Indian Museum of Panama (SAMAAP), Panamá.
6. Osorio, Katti
2010 Research on timber frame buildings in Panama City, Part 1: A tailored image of national heritage and its influence on conservation. Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) Flight. 75 (2010) Not. 650 pp. 989-995