Panama Canal fence
Encyclopedia
The Panama Canal fence, also known as the "Fence of shame", is a separation barrier
built by the US in the Panama Canal
zone that divided the Republic of Panama in two separate sections. Its construction started at the end of the 1950s when Panamanian students threatened with a "patriotic invasion". It was part of the scenario of a very important date in Panama history: the Martyr's Day on January 9, 1964, when the flag desecration incident spread and angry crowds formed along the fenced border between Panama City
and the Canal Zone. At several points demonstrators stormed into the zone, planting Panamanian flags and began to tear down the "Fence of shame" creating gaps in front of the US District Court and several other spots along the fence. Canal Zone police tear gassed them and several were shot for pulling or climbing on the fence.
The opinion of most Panamanians (and most Latin Americans generally) about the fence in question was expressed a few days later by Colombia
's ambassador to the Organization of American States
: "In Panama there exists today another Berlin Wall
."
Separation barrier
A separation barrier is a wall or fence constructed to limit the movement of people across a certain line or border, or to separate two populations. These structures vary in placement with regard to international borders and topography...
built by the US in the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
zone that divided the Republic of Panama in two separate sections. Its construction started at the end of the 1950s when Panamanian students threatened with a "patriotic invasion". It was part of the scenario of a very important date in Panama history: the Martyr's Day on January 9, 1964, when the flag desecration incident spread and angry crowds formed along the fenced border between Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
and the Canal Zone. At several points demonstrators stormed into the zone, planting Panamanian flags and began to tear down the "Fence of shame" creating gaps in front of the US District Court and several other spots along the fence. Canal Zone police tear gassed them and several were shot for pulling or climbing on the fence.
The opinion of most Panamanians (and most Latin Americans generally) about the fence in question was expressed a few days later by Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
's ambassador to the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
: "In Panama there exists today another Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
."