1964 martyrs recognized on day of sovereignty and mourning

50 YEARS after dodging American police bullets some of the survivors of the events of January 9, 1964 attended commemorations on the first "day of sovereignty and national mourning.” Marches and ceremonies continued through the day and evening.

In Independence Square in the Casco Viejo there was an early morning, raising of the flag of State in honour of the martyrs.

The survivors in white guayaberas, some with walking sticks, arrived on time. The government delegation led by President Ricardo Martinelli was 15 minutes late.
The flag was raised and lowered to half-mast and the party moved to the Cathedral for the Te Deum.
Inside the church was Jonathan Farrar, the U.S. ambassador in Panama , "I come for the respect we have for all countries ," said the diplomat of the country with which Panama broke diplomatic relations after the tragic events of January 9, 1964 reports La Prensa.

José Domingo Ulloa , Archbishop of Panama said: “The sovereignty we enjoy today in the territory rests on the sacrifice of several generations."
He stressed the importance of historical memory to create public awareness and patriotism and to build a just and sovereign country .
After Mass , the President spoke . "Remember, the dignity of, President Roberto Chiari (1964 ) , who sometimes is not recognized for what he did." Chari was the one who broke diplomatic relations with the United States on January 9, 1964 , but they were restored in April of that year.
Martinelli announced that the survivors of the epic will receive a pension of a thousand dollars a month
Martinelli offered his own testimony saying that on January 9. "I was 11 and I remember seeing it on television because and recalled crying over what he saw.
Official events continued in the Garden of Peace in Lefevre Park, where a procession was held at the graves of some of the martyrs of the patriotic deeds.
Arcadio Alonso, the National Movement of Martyrs' and Heroes of January 9 , said that was not recognized in its magnitude and the deed does not agree with the appearance, after 50 years of groups who have previously ignored the event.
"We cannot have dignity and be near impostors who have lived off the dead and have benefited though the government to date," said Marco Fenton, one of the wounded ofJanuary 9 , who left before the ceremony at the cemetery.

At a parallel event Juan Carlos Navarro, presidential candidate of the  PRD and members of his party , planted flags on the grounds of the Administration Building of the Panama Canal .
Juan Carlos Varela, Panameñista presidential candidate went to the Garden of Peace after the end of the official ceremony attended by the president.
 fficial ceremony attended by the president.

Genaro Lopez, presidential candidate of the Broad Front for Democracy ( FAD) , and their supporters marched along the Avenida de Los Martires carrying Panamanian flags and supported by the Trade Union of Construction Workers and Similar ( Suntracs ).
The CD presidential candidate, José Domingo Arias , attended the event organized by the Panama Canal Authority, at 7:00 p.m.
Ceremonies were also held at the National Institute from where the 1964 events started. The school hymn appointment was at 8:00 a.m. Although there was a plan to follow, at 8:15 am a group of school teachers sang the school hymn on the campus steps.
In the grounds of the school were representatives from many organizations, generations of school teachers and governors politicians. union leaders and 20 students of the current generation.
Jaime Andrade student leader regretted that the Ministry of Education ( Meduca ) not invited to participate in government actions , which were added on his own initiative .
They then marched to the memorial to the martyrs and heroes near the National Assembly.

At 4:00 pm another group of alumni of the National Institute, as well as those who participated in the deed of January 9 , held a march up the stairs of the Canal Administration .

At 7: pm there was an act of homage organized by the Canal Administration, at the site of the school where the Panamanian flag was raised on the fatal day, leading to multiple deaths and injuries but,ultimately, to the transfer of the Canal to Panama.