January 9th marks the 45th anniversary of a riot that occurred in Panama which killed upwards of 21 Panamanians and 4 US soldiers. The riot was the result of a disagreement between Panamanian students and Panama Canal Zone police officers.

The Panama Canal Zone was established in 1903 and was controlled buy the US government until 1979. It was a 553 square mile territory surrounding the Panama Canal. There was a fence built around the zone to separate the US territory from the rest of the Republic of Panama.

In January 1963, US President John F. Kennedy agreed to fly Panama’s flag alongside the US flag at all non-military sites in the Canal Zone. Unfortunately, Kennedy was killed before before the orders were carried out. The Panama Canal Zone governor at the time ordered the US flag would no longer be flown outside Canal Zone schools, police stations and other civilian locations, but the Panamanian flag would no longer be flown either.

This decree angered many Zonians who then began demonstrating with the US flag. Students at Balboa High School (a US school at the time) raised the US flag outside of the institution, but it was then taken down by school officials. In response, the students raised another US flag and posted guards to prevent it from being removed again. The situation intensified when Panamanian students at the Instituto Nacional got wind of the actions of the US students.

In response, about 200 Panamanian students grabbed the Panamanian flag from outside their school and marched over to the US run Balboa High School. The Panamanian students figured, if the US flag could be flown, why couldn’t the Panamanian flag be flown as well? When the Panamanian students reached the US high school, they were met by Canal Zone police as well as Zonian students and adults. The Panamanian students negotiated with the police and a small group was allowed to enter the school grounds to raise the Panamanian flag.

The Zonians were not pleased that the Panamanian flag was going to be flown alongside the US flag and quickly approached the group of students who were hanging the flag and started singing the US national anthem. A scuffle broke out, and as a result the Panamanian flag was torn. When word of the flag incident got out, crowds of Americans and Panamanians began to gather at the border between Panama City and the Canal Zone.

When Panamanian protesters stormed the Zone, police began tear gassing them which escalated the situation until police responded by opening fire. Panamanian demonstrators started to tear down what was known as the “Fence Of Shame” which separated the Canal Zone from the Republic of Panama. The riot continued for hours until the Canal Zone police, of about 85 strong, were overwhelmed by more than 5,000 Panamanian protesters. People were shot, buildings were set ablaze and when word of the riot spread, rioting began in towns throughout Panama. The fighting continued for 2 days and left a death toll of at least 21 Panamanians and 4 US soldiers. The incident also lead to Panama breaking diplomatic ties with the US. The events of January 9th are also considered to be a catalyst for the eventual signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty which dissolved the Canal Zone and lead to control of the canal being handed back to the Panamanians.

Correct statistics of the death toll and details of exactly what was done by whom are nearly impossible to gather. The US citizens involved tell one story, while Panamanians tell a completely different tale.

As a result of the riots which began on January 9th, 1964, two monuments have been erected in Panama. One was constructed where the flagpole incident occurred at the former Balboa High School. It was built by the Panamanian Canal Authority and consists of a covered entryway containing the memorial which has a name of a martyr on each column and a Panamanian flag in the center. The other monument stands on Avenieda de los Martires in front of the National Assembly. It is a life sized monument in the form of a lamp post with three figures climbing it to raise the flag.

January 9th is a national holiday in Panama as a result of this historical incident. The Panamanian government has declared that instead of Friday being a day off this year, Monday will be taken off to create a long weekend for the many Panamanians who work Saturdays. Friday, January 9th however, will be a “dry day”. That means alcohol cannot be sold in any bar, restaurant or store from midnight January 8th to midnight January 9th.

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Filed under: Business, History, News on January 8th, 2009