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BDF Doesn’t Want Pictures Posted
Fri, October 17, 2014
And finally from the General for tonight, he had a bone to pick with the press and others who had been posting pictures on the social media about the areas under tension, such as the Valentin Outpost.

He says that persons have been releasing details of BDF operations, including pictures of the conservation posts, especially when the area came under heat from the armed civilian incursion. Now, we don't necessarily support the restriction of information free-flow to you the viewers, but the commander says that this is necessary because it poses a serious security risk to release these pictures and information without clearing it with the military first.

Here's how he explained it:

Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander, Belize Defence Force
"Some of these NGOs that goes with us on these operations take photographs of the soldiers, take photographs of the conservation post, take photographs of the soldiers with their equipment and this poses a security risk to the soldiers and to the NGOs that goes with us on these patrols. Sometimes their photographs I would not be aware of this until I see it in the newspapers and these NGOs that work with us and its not Guatemalans who have been going to our OPs and taking pictures, it is our own Belizean people, our own NGOs that works with us go and take pictures of the OPs like the one at Valentin. The photographs was sent out to the media, exact location where it is without consulting with the BDF and that conservation post in the Valentin area, its only Belize Defence Force and the police working there, no other agency. So no other agency should have been taking pictures there and sending it out without consulting with us. They even sent out information as to how much soldiers are there; how much are being reinforce; how much will be working there. This is not information came from the BDF. So those NGOs or any other security force that works with us we urge them not to do this because it doesn't only out the security of the BDF at risk, but it also put their lives at risk because basic military discipline; you try not to disclose your location and strength to your opposing force, you don't do that. You are not suppose to do things like that and then if there is any operation you want to have in the area consult with us and we may warned you and give you advice as to where you can go and when not to go. A basic example; right after the incident occurred where the allege 40 Guatemalans went to try and persuade the Belizean soldiers to go close to the border with Guatemala for a meeting with the Guatemalan armed forces - that information when the soldiers got it they relayed it to the headquarters, came to me and they ask for further direction and very basic direction it's not going to happen, it's not something official. I will never allow any further to follow any civilians to go and meet us with a Guatemalan patrol. It didn't come across in military channel, it not the protocol. If they want to meet with us it will come through the normal channel then our soldiers will go and meet with them and have the discussion, but it was a typical standard ambush that was going to happen to the soldiers. They had about 20 of them visit by the OP site and a couple hundred meters away close to the bushes there were another 25 men with rifles, shotgun, and machetes. Their intention was to lure the soldiers into an ambush."

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