Graffiti group defies Martinelli, repaints hero mural for 3rd time

THE ARTISTIC group El Kolectivo and some 100 supporters stayed on the Avenida des Martires for 24 hours in defiance of President Martinelli’s orders outlawing graffiti on the street.

While they waited a group of graffiti artisspainted a giant mural honoring the January 9 1964 heroes who died in confrontation with U.S. troops after climbing the fence into the former Canal Zone, and raising the Panama flag.

The symbolic act led to the later signing of a pact to hand over the canal administration to Panama at the turn of the century.
The mural has been painted over twice before by the Ministry of Public Works. But the group has continually defied the government in the name of artistic expression.
The event started at 10 am. Saturday, December 7 and ended at 10 am on Sunday.
There were about 10 pólice officers at the scene, but they did not interfere with the work in progress