Art group continues fight for commemorative mural

The artistic movement El Kolectivo is continuing its fight to be allowed to paint a mural on Avenida de los Mártires honoring those who died in the events of January 9 1964.

Their efforts to date have been frustrated by President Ricardo Martinelli who ordered the Ministryof Public Works (MOP) to paint out their previous attempts.

The Avenue, previously known as July 4, got its name from the 1964 events when students from the National Institute were shot and killed during confrontations with the US military after they had scaled the fence surrounding the former Canal Zone, and raised the Panamanian flag over a school largely occupied by American students.
The aftermath of the event came in 1969 when Panama’s General Omar Torrijos and US President Jimmy Carter signed an agreement, transferring the canal to Panama at the turn of the century.
The Kolectivo told La Prensa on Wednesday, December 11, that it is writing a letter to National Institute of Culture (Inac) Director, María Eugenia Herrera to to formalize the request it made Tuesday to allow it to paint the mural.
Paula Renata, a member of the movement, said Herrera, who was to inspect the wall, informed them that they need to submit a request in writing.
"We hope that they will allow us to paint the wall on January 9 and pay tribute to the martyrs," Renata said.
Herrera has 30 days to respond to the request of El Kolectivo as established by law, but the movement expects to be notified earlier, as they need to know the answer before January 9.
The group met with Herrera for more than an hour on Tuesday.