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Police Try To Put Brakes In SATIIM For National Park Patrol
posted (August 23, 2013)
SATIIM, The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management officially had its rights as national park co-managers rescinded by the Forestry Department in mid July. But SATIIM continues to operate in the Sarstoon Temash National Park because the organization says it falls within their communal lands. This is how SATIIM Executive Director Greg Choc explained it one month ago on July 23rd.:….

Gregorio Choc - Executive Director, SATIM
"The Sarstoon Temash National Park is not only a National Park - it is also Maya Customary land, the Sarstoon-Temash National Park is not only a national park, it is also Maya customary land and so we will continue to manage the Sarstoon-Temash National Park on behalf of the indigenous people of the region. I want to tell the Forestry Department and the Government of Belize that SATIM will continue to manage and protect the National Park because it is our interest and the interest of the Belizean people. SATIM is not only protecting the park - but it is ensuring the territorial integrity of this country."

And so this morning, SATIIM's Rangers, along with Village Chairmen and Alcalde set out on their monthly patrol along the Sarstoon. Today, they didn't have the participation of the BDF – which, appears to have ended their long standing partnership of conducting joint patrols with SATIIM along the Sarstoon Boundary.

So, SATIIM set out today with just its personnel and the area's village leaders. But, just before leaving this morning, they report that police officers attempted to intercept SATIIM Rangers and the village Leaders to search their vessel and collect the names of all persons on board.

SATIIM's statement says quote,

"These actions are part of the Government's sustained efforts and continued harassment of SATIIM and the indigenous communities…" It continues, "this won't deter SATIIM and the communities from doing what they know is right and what they need to do."

We tried to contact the authorities to see who gave the order, but no one in law enforcement or forestry that we contacted to seemed to know.

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