Panama Canal, a History of Struggle
Panamanians will vote for a national referendum October 22 on the proposal of modernization of the Panama Canal Zone, currently controlled by the country after decades of struggle for its recovery.

Over 2 million Panamanians will have to decide on the construction of three locks in the inter-Ocean route, in the hands of United States for over 80 years.

After Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, Washington purchased the rights to restart the work, begun years before by a French company.

The new country's government granted full authority to the northern nation on a 16-km wide strip of land of the Canal Zone.

The pact gave the White House not only land, water and other rights, but also the construction and operation of the route in perpetuity.

Efforts from several sectors started since then to recover that piece of the national territory.

At the end of the 1950s, there was a movement known as Planting Flags, which obliged US authorities to fly the Panamanian national insignia in the Canal area.

During the 70s, the country stepped up demands, led by General Omar Torrijos, who restarted talks between both countries on this issue, established in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed on September 7, 1977.