Monuments are preserved, restored, and integrated into urban transformation processes; they are not removed without reflection, dialogue, and due respect to those they represent. Indeed, the act in question appears to be a reinstatement of the xenophobia that has been developing, especially since the current US administration took power. They hold the memories, learnings, and connections that allow a people to recognize itself in its history. Therefore, the material and intellectual actors must face the consequences for their unfortunate recklessness. We stand for intercultural understanding and the promotion of a society that values, respects, and safeguards the wealth of its diversity. The Institute reiterates its conviction that historical memory is an irreplaceable asset and that its protection is a moral and civic duty.
The monument, built next to the Bridge of the Americas, which crosses the interoceanic canal, was maliciously and surprisingly demolished amidst accusations of US intervention and provocations in Panama. The Institute of the Canal of Panama and International Studies (ICUP) expresses its deep consternation over the demolition of the monument dedicated to the 150 years of the Chinese presence in Panama. Therefore, the destruction of a monument, whatever the reason invoked, constitutes a violation of the cultural rights of communities and a setback in the protection of heritage that belongs to everyone. The disappearance of this symbol not only affects a physical space but also interrupts a silent but constant dialogue between generations, a dialogue that sustains the plural identity of the Panamanian nation.
The ICUP considers it essential to remember that monuments are not simply stone or metal structures. They are custodians of collective memory, guardians of the narratives that give meaning to national life. This clearly planned fact, which has aroused legitimate concern in broad sectors of society, represents a wound to historical memory and to the recognition of a community whose trajectory has been closely linked to the nation's development since the mid-19th century. In Panama, xenophobia reached constitutional dimensions in 1941 when Chinese, Jews, and Indians (from India), and especially, blacks were excluded. For the Institute of the Canal and International Studies of the University of Panama, this is not just another prank. It would be unforgivable to reinstate that nefarious experience. In defense of this principle, the ICUP reaffirms its commitment to rigorous research, intercultural understanding, and the promotion of a society that values, respects, and safeguards the wealth of its diversity.
