Two weeks ago, we told you about the results of the investigation by the OAS Independent Investigation Team. These forensic experts from the US and Mexico did an exhaustive inquiry, and their findings vindicates the Belizean Lawmen in the fatal shooting of 14 year-old Guatemalan Julio Ruano.
As you are well aware, the Guatemalan Government called it murder, and even after this investigation, they have not eased up. They are questioning the report, calling it inconclusive at best, even though the experts found evidence that the family fired shots at the Belizean patrol. Moreover, the experts unearthed the attempts by members of the Guatemalan Army to try to suppress crucial evidence.
The Prime Minister commented that their Government should apologize to Belize, and those remarks incensed the Guatemalan officials. The OAS Secretary General's Special Representative, Magdalena Talamas, also remains under intense pressure from the Guats, for comments she made in their media. They're calling for her removal from the post, and they also indicated that they would complain about Prime Minister Barrow.
At today's press conference, the media asked the Prime Minister to share his thoughts on the new hardline stance from his Guatemalan counterparts, and here's how he put it:
Rt., Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize
"We can't compel them to give us an apology and it doesn't surprise me that they would refuse to. I certainly am concerned about their demand of the Secretary General that he in fact remove Ms. Talamas. I think if the Secretary General were accede to that demand, he would be giving in to bullying. But its a matter for him. We certainly have already put on record our position in this regard. Look, its unfortunate that a process to which we both agree Belize and Guatemala which has now resulted in a vindication of Belize, is not accepted by the Guatemalans. But there is not a great deal we can do about that. The fact is, now the international community is quite clear as to what has happened and as to the vindication of Belize."
Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales has said, quote, "the report is inconclusive and it should have had criminal implications for those responsible for the death of Guatemalan child."
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