On this day 61 years ago, on January 9, 1964 (November 25, 1963 lunar calendar), the US military and the Panamanians clashed in the Panama Canal Zone. January 9, 1964 was the national "National Day of Mourning" for the Republic of Panama. The Panama Canal is an important shipping waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Construction began in 1881. In 1903, the US government seized the right to build the canal and the permanent concession of the canal zone through the US-Pakistan treaty it imposed on Panama. About 60,000 to 70,000 laborers were killed during construction. After the Panama Canal was built in 1914, the United States turned the canal zone into a state within a state. The US government appointed a governor, raised the US flag, implemented US laws, stationed US troops, and looted more than $100 million a year from canal taxes. The Panamanian people continue to struggle to regain the sovereignty of the canal. In January 1964, Panama set off a storm of anti-American struggle that shook the world. On January 9, a group of students demanded to raise the Panamanian flag in the Panama Canal Zone, which was suppressed by the US military. 21 Panamanians died and 4 Americans died. On the same day 30,000 Panamanians gathered to demand access to the Canal Zone and raised the Panamanian flag there, and the US military massacred the demonstrators. Angry people attacked the US embassy and burned the US press office. Many cities went on strike, class strikes, and market strikes to protest US atrocities and demand the restoration of the canal sovereignty. On March 11, the Panamanian government severed diplomatic relations with the United States and announced the abrogation of the Canal Zone Treaty. On March 21, US President Johnson announced that the United States was On April 3, Panama resumed diplomatic relations with the United States. In 1965, the Panamanian government designated January 9 as a "National Day of Mourning". It called on the people to continue the struggle until September 7, 1977, when the United States was forced to sign a new U.S.-Pakistan treaty with the Panamanian government, abolishing the privileges that the United States permanently occupied. The struggle of the Panamanian people was finally victorious.