7 News Belize

BDF to GAF: How Things Change In 14 Years
posted (April 24, 2014)

For the past two nights, we've been telling you about the Guatemalan Armed Forces soldier, 20 year-old Oscar Caal Coc who was captured in Belizean territory on Monday.  He's back at home in Guatemala now, supposedly facing internal disciplinary charges for crossing the line he shouldn't have.  But, he got off easy: he had a weapon and was illegally in Belize – which meant – based on those objective facts alone – that he should have faced criminal charges.  But, these are the days of confidence building and joint patrols, so he was released into the custody of his commander, after being held by the BDF for three days. 

Perhaps it is in the best interest of peace keeping and neighbourly relations that it ended that way, but it brings to mind the incident which happened in February of 2000 when a 25 man G-A-F patrol captured a 4 man BDF and Police patrol and accused them of crossing into Guatemala. Second Lieutenant Romaldo Herrera, Lance Corporal Lucio Arana, Private Luciano Tzub and Police Constable Macedonio Sanchez were captured on February 24th, and put in a Guatemalan holding facility.

As a study in how far military to military relations have come in the 14 years since, tonight, for contrast, we look back at the seismic event:

Jules Vasquez Reporting

The soldiers were held here at the Detention center in Santa Elena, Peten, but just like a jail, there were real guards with real guns and GAF soldiers overseeing it all.

The soldiers were stripped of their Belizean military fatigues - left only in their BDF boots, but humiliated by being made to wear t-shirts from the Guatemalan Armed Forces.

PC Macedonio Sanchez - Police Officer
"As far as we are concerned, we were still in Belizean soil when we encountered them."

Still, they were made to face a judge:

PC Macedonio Sanchez - Police Officer
"They took me where they had a judge, as they called it, and they asked me if I wanted to give a declaration for a second time, but I refused."

By the next day they were in Guatemalan military uniforms - explaining hwo they were outnumbered by the Guats:

Lt. Romaldo Herrera - BDF Soldier
"The GAF Patrol already had their weapons made read. I strongly felt that if I had chosen anything else, we would have placed our lives in jeopardy, as were outnumbered by far. At no point, we we have a chance to fight out from that patrol 4 against 25."

8 days later after diplomacy and some legal gamesmanship - a Tropic Air flight from Flores, Peten touched down with the soldiers onboard:

H.E. Salvador Figueroa - Ambassador
"We pulled all the cards we could, diplomaticly and legally, and I think that at the end of the day, it was clear these gentlemen, there were no just cause for holding them."

They were home, after skipping bail:

H.E. Salvador Figueroa
"It is sort of a bail, they've been released by recognisance right now."

H.E. Eamon Courtenay - Ambassador
"As far as we're concerned, we asked to do something to get the boys back home, and they're back home."

Back home into the arms of family members, with a costly lesson learned:

Lt. Romaldo Herrera - BDF Soldier
"We were stripped of all equipment, ammunition, every millitary item held, except documents. We were like puppets in Guatemala, just moving at the mercy of the judicial system there."

Puppets for 8 days, but historical figures forever, the only Belizean military personnel ever to be held captive in Guatemala.

And while they had to skip bail – along with their surety, the then Ambassador Sal Figueroa, 20 year-old Oscar Caal Coc will face military charges which could include a demotion.

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