Under the silence of the night and with lit candles, the Chinese-Panamanian community held a vigil filled with respect and firmness in the same place where for years the viewpoint that commemorated 150 years of Chinese presence in Panama stood. The act was not one of confrontation, but of memory. And last night, among candles and silence, it became clear that memory is also defended. There, where there was once a symbol of history and coexistence, today there is only the claim of a community that feels struck by a decision made without dialogue and in the middle of the night, when no one could defend what they considered part of their identity. Panamanians from different communities, neighbors of the area, and supportive people joined the vigil, respectfully accompanying the claim. The community reiterated that they are not against development, but against decisions that erase history without consultation, especially on dates when families gather and coexistence should prevail. At the end of the vigil, the Chinese-Panamanian community made a clear call: to open spaces for dialogue, respect historical memory, and rebuild the viewpoint in its original location, as an act of justice and recognition of more than a century and a half of contribution to the country. «The Chinese are brothers of the Panamanian people. To tear it down like that, at night and on these dates, was a low blow,» expressed one of the attendees, visibly affected. The words mixed with silence, candles, and contained indignation. «This hurts because there is no way to explain what we feel».
