Panama Recalls End of US
Occupation
The fortieth anniversary
of the signing of the
Torrijos-Carter
agreements was recalled
by Panamanians Friday,
as it marked the end of
a century of military
and political
interference by
Washington.
The so-called Canal Zone
had become a true US
military-colonial
enclave, considered the
fifth frontier and
object of numerous
protests and demands,
reprimanded with gunfire
on more than one
occasion.
With the agreements
signed by Omar Torrijos
and US President Jimmy
Carter in 1977, Panama
recovered sovereignty of
the Panama Canal, a
formidable income source
to fight poverty in
Panama, as 40 percent of
the Panamanian
population is poor.
The signing was an
exceptional moment for
the brave Panamanian
leader when the general
obtained the rights of
his people with bravery,
tenacity and natural
talent.
Poverty is today's
challenge, said
President Martín
Torrijos, to prove that
the sacrifice of
generations to recover
the Canal was worth it. |
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