PANAMA CITY — A national holiday in Panama commemorating the tragic deaths of 21 protesters at the hands of police and U.S. military personnel in 1964 is taking on heightened significance this year, especially in light of comments made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about potentially reclaiming control of the Panama Canal.
On January 9, 1964, students initiated protests in the U.S.-controlled canal zone, demanding the right to display Panama’s flag in their secondary school. This triggered broader dissent against the American presence in Panama, leading to increased involvement from U.S. troops in the situation.
Historians recognize what has since been termed Martyrs’ Day as a pivotal moment that ultimately influenced an agreement signed by then-President Jimmy Carter, allowing for the transfer of control of the canal to Panama, which took effect on December 31, 1999.
This year’s observance of the holiday coincided with the recent funeral of former President Carter in Washington. Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the remarkable age of 100, was instrumental in the negotiations that returned the canal to Panamanian sovereignty.
In stark contrast to Carter’s legacy, Trump appears to be adopting a more aggressive stance during his second term. Recently, he has indicated that he would not dismiss the possibility of using military force to regain control of the Panama Canal. Trump has voiced complaints regarding increased fees for ships passing through the canal and has suggested that the U.S. should reclaim ownership.
Such proposals have been firmly dismissed by Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino.
During a commemorative ceremony on Thursday, Esmeralda Orobio, the niece of one of the 1964 victims, emphatically stated, “The Panama Canal is ours, and we are going to defend it.”
Michael Shifter, who previously served as president of the Inter-American Dialogue and is currently an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, characterized Trump’s remarks as mere rhetoric devoid of substance.
“The notion that Trump would ever resort to military action to regain the canal is simply unrealistic,” he asserted.
