SUMMARY OF INFORMATION REPORTED BY STATION PANAMA ON THE 9 - 10 JANUARY ANTI-US STUDENT RIOTS.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66B00403R000400050010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2004
• Sequence Number: 10
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For Release 2004/126 m 5 CIA 1RDP66B00403R000400050010-0
25X1
One hundred and fifty Panamanian students from the National
Institute, point of origin of many anti-United States demonstrations,
entered the Panama Canal Zone on the evening of 9 January to protest
the flying of the American flag by US students of Balboa high school.
Permission for the march was granted by Minister of Education Manuel
Solis-Palma, known associate of communists and revolutionaries.
Following the outbreak of violence, Thelma King, pro-Castro
deputy to the National Assembly, led a mob of 1,000 to National
Guard headquarters demanding arms to fight the Americans. The Guard
broke up the demonstration.
The US Embassy, the offices of the Alliance for Progress, the
Pan American Airlines building and other buildings and stores were
attacked by the mobs.
A general assembly of all students, to which the general public
was invited, was scheduled for 11 am, 10 January, by Communist student
leader Victor Avila.
Communist students were urging the rioters to continue and Radio
Tribuna was inciting the crowds to further violence. The National
Guard was trying to silence the radio station.
Bishop Marcos McGrath was summoned to National Guard headquarters
for advice on ways to quiet the crowds. And, at a meeting of university
teachers, summoned by the Rector of Panama University, a cable was
written to Pope Paul VI asking him to intercede for the Panamanians.
Approved For Release 2004/12/15': CIA=RDP66B00403R000400050010-0
 Approved For Release 2004/12`154 A-RDP66B00403R000400050010-0
Cables were also sent to the heads of every Latin American nation
asking their moral support.
Presidential candidate Marco Robles, while assuring that his
friendship for the United States continued, warned that much
unpleasantness could be expected in the days ahead as a result of
these tragic events. Robles was angry with what he called "those
Americans who do things like this."
The events of 9 and 10 January can be expected to bring forth
not only extremely critical statements from Panamanian politicians
but will undoubtedly cause many genuine friends to turn against the
United States.
There are seven known dead Panamanians and approximately 80
wounded as of this writing. The riots have spread to Colon where a
mob of 2,000 were massed at the border of the Zone. Efforts by Rector
Garay of the University of Panama to have the funerals of the Panamanian
dead conducted at a cemetery somewhat removed from the vicinity of the
Zone in order to lessen tension were questioned by two teachers at the
meeting who believed that tension should be kept up in order to
strengthen Panama's case for a revision of the 1903 treaty.
10 January was declared a day of national mourning. With the
closing of all schools, businesses, and government offices, the streets
will be filled with crowds, adding further to the inflammatory situation.
Approved For Release 2004/12/15 : CIA-RDP66B00403R000400050010-0