And back now to Belize - Guatemala relations, we revisit a few more of the eyebrow - raising remarks made by the Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales in his revealing Canal Antigua interview. He had a lot of derogatory comments about the professionalism of the BDF - and went as far to make the very ugly suggestion that they are actually hunting Guatemalan farmers. Those of us who have been in the Chiquibul know how preposterous that it - when menacing inscriptions such as this have been etched into trees by the Guatemalan bandits who use the Chiquibul as the staging ground for outlaw operations. This one - which we just saw last week says, menacingly, "We are waiting for you."
Still, in the topsy turvy world of Carlos Raul, the BDF is the hunter, not the hunted:
Carlos Morales- Guatemalan Foreign Minister
"What I had fervently asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize in March of 2014, at the time of the previous death, was this: Minister, do the best you can to control your army. Do whatever you can to train your army. And not only did I ask this to the Belizean Minister. I asked the Southern Commander of the United States, who collaborates with my army along with the Belizean army in anti-drug operations. We also asked the British. I personally have asked the British State Secretary to help Belize in preparing their troops psychologically because, this is something important note; every story has two sides, and it is sad to say that in Belize there is a level of irresponsibility on the part of the politicians and the media houses who poison the mentality against Guatemala. From very young they are told that Guatemala is the enemy, from very young Belizeans are told that Guatemala wants to take their territory without any sense."
"And by the way, you will not hear a single incident that as occurred on the part of the Guatemalan army. And this I have to say: if the situation was reversed, if the victim was a Belizean child who was shot by Guatemalan forces, I can't even begin to imagine how they would be condemning us for the violation of human rights. That is why we are very serious on this matter. We want to see a change of attitude from Belize. This situation cannot continue. We can't wait two years just to see the violent killing of another farmer."
"I've always believed that Guatemala is a country that respects International Rights, it is a country that prioritizes in finding passive solutions to conflicts. We could be very angry about what occurred with the death of this child but we won't react like them. We won't go and hunt down a Belizean, like they have hunted down Guatemalan farmers before. Sorry for the strong expression but that is literally what they have done. But we will not act in the same manner."
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