Photo: Screenshot from the official WeChat account of the ACFROC

All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) urged Panama's Arraiján local government to implement the President's directive of reconstruction, heed to appeals from local people and the Chinese community, rectify its mistakes as the local authorities' demolition of the Chinese monument on Saturday had encountered strong opposition, according to a post released on its official WeChat account on Monday.

The China-Panama Friendship Park and the monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese people in Panama were forcefully demolished on Saturday night despite sweeping opposition from on-site representatives of Chinese community. 

According to local media reports, Arraiján Mayor Stefany Peñalba had announced plans of a new park without the monument. The 20-year concession for the monument had expired, and the municipality had not responded to the Chinese Association of Panama's requests to renovate it.

The Chinese Embassy in Panama and Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong indignation and firm opposition to the forced demolition, which the ACFROC voiced support. 

The ACFROC said the erroneous action of the Arraiján municipality has provoked global outrage. Overseas Chinese residing in Panama have unanimously stated that the park is their spiritual home, a testament to the struggles of their forebears, and a treasure of Panama's multicultural heritage. "It is something we cannot lose and must defend," read the post.

The association of Chinese descendants in Costa Rica said that this incident has touched the hearts of all overseas Chinese who cherish cultural heritage and respect the history of struggle. Cultural value transcends national borders, and historical memories deserve to be safeguarded, the ACFROC said, citing the association.

The China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Venezuela called for the preservation of history and the upholding of justice, the post said.

An overseas Chinese national surnamed Pan in Peru said that Chinese laborers made an indelible contribution to the construction of the Panama Canal in those years, even sacrificing their lives in the process. 

To deny this history is an outright provocation against the traditional friendship cherished by both the Chinese and Panamanian peoples, as well as a blatant desecration of the common human values cherished by peace-loving people around the world, including the people of Panama, said Pan, adding that a groundswell of solidarity in support of the just cause is emerging across the globe.

Panama President José Raúl Mulino on Sunday condemned the "act of irrationality" as unforgivable, and an investigation should be initiated immediately. He said there is no justification whatsoever for the barbarity committed by the mayor of Arraijan in demolishing the monument to the Chinese community, he said in a post on X.

The ACFROC said, "We greatly appreciate President Mulino's public condemnation of the action taken by the municipal authorities of Arraiján and the Presidential Office's directive for immediate reconstruction at the original site."

It also said, "We fully endorse the strong appeals of the overseas Chinese community in Panama and people worldwide, as well as their public statements emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and China-Panama friendship."

We strongly urge the municipal authorities of Arraiján to implement the explicit directives of the President of Panama and the Presidential Office, heed the appeals of the local people and the Chinese community, promptly rectify their mistakes, and never do anything that grieves the friends and gladdens the foes, read the ACFROC post. 

"We will await further developments," said the ACFROC, adding that "We also believe that the municipal authorities of Arraiján will ultimately return to the correct path of safeguarding the friendship between the Chinese and Panamanian peoples."


Global Times