Three weeks ago - US Capital Energy rolled over into a new phase of their oil exploration activities in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. That's when the government-sanctioned waiver of the expiration date on their license came into effect. Since then, leaders of the Mayan villages buffering the national park have been consulting with their communities and trying to arrive at a consensus position. It has been complicated because to a large extent, US Capital Energy has used economic influence to create allies in these communities where opportunities are scarce. And US Capital has been steadily backed up by the Government of Belize - which has thrown its support behind the oil company at the political, policy and personnel level.
So where does the balance of power rest now - after US Capital has sniped off key support in buffer communities like Sundaywood? That's what today's press conference outside of Punta Gorda town was supposed to answer. It was held this afternoon - and 7news was there. Greg Ch'oc outlined the consensus position of the communities:...
Greg Ch'oc, Executive Director, SATIIM
"We therefore declare: we this day reassert our inherent right to self-determination as indigenous people under international law. We will not stop nor be deterred from achieving this objective. We demand an immediate halt to the violation of our internationality and nationally recognize right including the plan destruction of our livelihood which we condemn as a form of cultural genocide. We call on the government of Belize to respect the laws of this country and orders of its court by immediately recognizing, respecting and protecting the ancestral customary rights of our people to their lands, territories and natural resources."
"In cases where our lands have been expropriated, the government of Belize must rapidly returned these lands to us along with full and just compensation. We categorically reject the government of Belize oil development agenda which will lead to the expulsion of our people from our rightfully held land and territories and condemn us to further discrimination exclusion and impoverishment."
Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for SATIIM
"Up until today there has been no consultation by the government of Belize with my clients in compliance with the order of the supreme court. The government has embarked upon a charade of having supposed consultations with other parties who are not parties to the claim. We call on the government to obey the rule of law and the order of the Supreme Court."
"We have filed an application for a post judgment injunction which is to be heard on the 16th June."
And while we wait until June 16th. For that hearing, how long will the Mayan communities wait if US Capital and the Government continue to proceed in what they believe is a lawless fashion? Ch'oc says they are doing their best to be patient:..
Greg Ch'oc, Executive Director, SATIIM
"The time is drawing near when I believe that the community have and are becoming impatient, want to ensure that we live in a society where the rule of law prevails and they have demonstrated their commitment to uphold the rule of law. But it cannot be a one sided process. We as indigenous people as Belizean understand and know what our rights are and I know that the time is fast drawing near when we will stand to defend those rights because it means that either we have a community of Mayas in the future or we have a population decimated by the polices of government of Belize."
"We could block US Capital and their people from going in, but I think that we want to give the new injunction application that we have applied. I think that we have are being restrained among ourselves decided that we should refrain from engaging physically from confronting US Capital to give the process a chance and I want to make it clear here to the government of Belize and especially to the Prime Minister of this country that if he believes that the Maya community is going to waiver, is going to be frustrated, he needs to understand the legacy of resistance is in our blood, it has been there for the last 500 years and as long as we are alive we will continue with our sustained effort and when we reach that point where we believe the court is no longer able to protect our interest or the government refuse to protect interest then it is the community that will make a determine decision on what appropriate action they will take."
Ch'oc says that at this time, there is nothing occurring on the drill site that would warrant them to go in.
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