Richard Detrich’s Boquete, Panama Weblog

Often we have the impression that US & Panama ties began in 1904 when the US, in need of a canal connecting the oceans, encouraged and supported Panama’s separation from Columbia and the creation of the Panamanian state. My neighbor Robert Boyd has written a very interesting article in our local weekly paper, Bajareque Times, entitled “Colombia’s Battleground: The War of 1000 Days” in which he details US involvement and intervention in the affairs of the then department of Columbia known as Panama.

After Independence from Spain in 1821, the Isthmus of Panama chose to become a department (province) of Colombia and aligned themselves with the former colonial administrative district of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (present day Colombia). In the latter half of the nineteenth century, skirmishes between the liberal party and the conservative party turned Panama into a battleground.

Between 1863 and 1886, coups d’état, rebellions, and violence were almost continuous, staged by troops of the central government, by local citizens against centrally imposed edicts, and by factions out of power. During that time, the Department of Panama experienced fifty riots and rebellions, five attempted secessions, and thirteen interventions by the United States, acting under the provisions of the Bidlack-Mallarino Treaty which had been signed in 1846 and granted the US rights to build railroads through Panama and the obligation to intervene militarily if Panama tried to secede from Colombia. During these times, Panama endured the power struggle of Colombia’s most prominent political parties “The Liberals” and the “Conservatives”. In Natá de Coclé on October 27, 1899, while the conservatives were in power, the Liberals led by future Panamanian president Bellisario Porras began their revolt to oust the Conservatives from power . . .

Panama became the battleground to see who would control Columbia proper.

The Liberal forces than took Colon and burned it to the ground at which time the US sent in the marines to protect American interests on the Panama Railroad at the request of the US Consul and the Railroad Superintendent. The US Military presence caused the Liberal forces to surrender again, and another treaty was signed on November 29, 1901, between the Liberals and the Conservatives in the presence of the commanding officer of the US Marines. On December 24, 1901, the Liberals invaded Panama for the last time, with a force of 1,500 hundred, well trained men.

With the invasion of Panama City, the Liberals learned that the Conservative government in Colombia had asked the United States, had asked for help in putting down the rebellion, so they moved the battle to Aguadulce where they soundly defeated the Conservative forces. But now with the US firmly involved in their war, the Liberals had no choice but to seek a negotiated settlement and with the Liberals in a state of turmoil over the proceedings, the Conservatives amassed a large army of veterans fighters, a force of over 5,000 men and put down the Panama rebellion, once and for all. The final blow for the Liberals was when they were defeated in the battle of Nerlandia, in Colombia, on October 28, 1902, and was advised to cease all resistance. On November 19, 1902, all sides met on board the US Battleship, Wisconsin, and a treaty was signed, ending all hostilities.

It was call The Thousand Days War. The photo is of child soldiers during the Thousand Days War in Panama