Martyrs' Day is a Panamanian holiday

From the U.S. Embassy in Panama:
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Martyr's Day

Security Message

Martyrs' Day is a Panamanian holiday which commemorates the January 9, 1964 riots over sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone. The incident is considered to be a significant factor in the U.S. decision to transfer control of the Canal Zone to Panama through the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama City advises all U.S. citizens in Panama that Martyrs’ Day (Mourning Day) will be observed this year on Monday, January 7, 2013.  There is a planned march scheduled for 10:00 am that will begin at the Instituto Nacional and conclude at the Balboa Academy in Ciudad del Saber.  The ceremony will include speeches by some Panamanian survivors of the incident and the mother of one of the Panamanians who was killed.  The Embassy has received no credible information of possible demonstrations, marches or related activities and has no information that the planned march will be violent or otherwise disruptive.  However, even events planned as peaceful may evolve into demonstrations, including violence. We advise U.S. citizens in the area of the march and ceremony to use due caution, and to consider avoiding the affected areas.

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The event was postponed until Wednesday, January 9, the actually anniversary of the event. I am waiting for reports on the event.  LS 01-09-2013