Art group moves ahead with January 9 mural

WITH ONLY four days to go to the 50th anniversary pf the patriotic event of January 9 1964, the artistic movement El Kolectivo decided last night to go ahead paint a commemorative mural on Avenida de los Martires.
The mural will depict the events in which a number of Panamanian students were killed in a confrontation with the U.S, military. According to the movement, its efforts to get a response to the requests they made to the Panamanian authorities have been unsuccessful.
"To date, there has been no demonstration by the national government. It makes us understand that they do not give importance to this citizen's initiative, but that shows an attitude of intolerance against art," the group said.
On Dec. 10, the group met with Institute of Culture Director María Eugenia Herrera, who offered alternative locations for the work, but the movement was not satisfied with the alternatives.
Previous efforts to install a mural have been painted over. Avenida de los Martires was formerly known as July 4.