7 News Belize

Foreign Minister Updates Guatemalans On Civilian Killed In Chiquibul
posted (April 10, 2014)
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, met this afternoon with Guatemalan authorities to update them on the investigation into the death of 26 year old Tomas Desdicho Ramirez, the Guatemalan civilian who was killed by the BDF inside the Chiquibul on Belizean soil.

As we've told you, Ramirez is the 4th civilian to be killed by BDF in 3 years, and so, his death has created some cross border tension. Elrington, who is trying to regain the confidence of the Guatemalans, granted us an interview after that meeting at his Belize City Office. Here's how he explained their discussion:

Hon. Wilfred Elrington
"These were two members of the "fiscales" they called them, these are people who worked in the prosecutor's office like the DPP office and they really wanted to come over to see to what extend they could be of assistance to us they told me in terms of trying to get to the bottom of what really transpired out there in the jungle which led to the death of the Guatemalan citizen. It's a difficult circumstances, but this exercise in no different from when it is allege that a policeman here has shot and kill a Belizean. It's the same process they go through; you investigate it in an objective and dispassionate way without it being said that you are sacrificing the policeman. This is a situation that it's almost a situation that damn if you and you damn if you don't because in the case where a policeman is allege to have shot a Belizean and kill a Belizean - if you don't investigate it properly or the public doesn't perceive that you are doing that - the government and the police is criticized."

"It's a delicate situation. You have to bear in mind that both the deceased person and the police officer have rights and the balance is to make sure that you observed those rights. They must be accorded all their rights while you have to do your obligation to investigate the matter. Incidents of these nature particularly between Belize and Guatemala is one that always catches international attention because it has the potential to escalate out of proportion, so we have got to be very circumspect in what we do to make sure that in fact we cannot be accused of covering up wrongs that are being done to citizens of Guatemala or any other country."

Daniel Ortiz
"How do you work towards building back that relationship when a situation like this has happen and there will be that natural distrust?"

Hon. Wilfred Elrington
"Well that's why we are trying to make it as open and as transparent as possible and it is for that reason that we are trying to get a third party to come in and help us investigate, so that it can be seen that we are very open and transparent and not seeking to concede anything. It is very important in my view and in our government's view that we are being open and transparent. We are requested of our allies, the Americans, to see to what extent they could help us."

Police are still gathering all the details, and they will have the file fully compiled by next week. A part of that file will undoubtedly be the gun found on Ramirez's body, the shotgun cartridges found nearby, the marijuana plants he was suspected of cultivating, and the marijuana seeds found at their makeshift thatch roof camp.

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