Anti-American Holiday in
Panama
Only few Americans know
that January 9 is
national holiday in
Panama, and even fewer
know are familiar with
the meaning of this day,
Martyrs’ Day marks the
outbreak of a fight
between Panama and the
USA in 1964.
In this fight, four
Americans and 22
Panamanian died.
That event caused tense
relations between the
USA and Panama. At the
same time this also
marked the beginning of
the process through
which the USA eventually
gave up from the Panama
canal.
It all started in 1950,
when the Americans
started to build a
railway over the Panama
canal.
The disorders in 1956
signaled anger in North
America. Thousands of
angry Panamanian went
out on the streets while
the Americans returned
in tears. Panama broke
diplomatic relations
with the USA on January
10, 1964.
In 1980 President
Rutherford Hayes decided
to build the canal.
Americans military
interfered again. Fights
continued until 1999,
the hegemony then
finally ended. The
inhabitants of Panama
remember the day when
the fight for
independence started.
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