Belize-Guatemala relations are tense tonight after that country's Minister
of Foreign Affairs Jorge Briz boldly chastised the BDF for, "the excessive
and unjust use of firearms."
The remarks came at a press conference yesterday in Guatemala City when
Bris displayed pictures of Lorenzo Espino - a Xatero who he claims was shot
by the BDF on Wednesday, April 7th.
Belize's Ministry of Foreign Affairs today responded with its own statement
saying that a patrol comprising BDF soldiers and police encountered Guatemalan
Xateros 17 kilometers within Belizean territory in the Chiquibul Forest reserve.
Members of the patrol claim that the Xateros fired at them first. When they
returned fire, the Xateros fled.
Still they did manage to catch up Guatemalan national Juventino Saldivar
Cabrera who carried a 9mm pistol, 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 8 bundles
of Xate leaves. Searching the area, they also found a thatched-roof shed, 7
empty boxes for 9mm caliber bullets and six pieces of Mayan artifacts. The patrol
team leader reported that there was no indication that anyone was injured at
that time. Saldivar is being held pending charges of illegal entry, keeping
an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, attempted murder, aggravated assault and
illegal harvesting of forestry product.
But while the patrol team leader reported that no one was shot - the Guatemalans
point to Espino who has gunshot wounds to his arm and buttocks. Prensa Libre
quotes doctors as saying that he won't be able to use his arm again. At yesterday's
press conference, Bris accused Belize of violating the confidence building measures
and the Xateros' human rights and says he will make it the focal point of a
meeting at the OAS in Washington on May 4th.
Speaking with us today, Belize's minister of foreign affairs Godfrey Smith
said that he does not expect this to derail the differendum process. He adds
that he will use the May meeting to emphasize that the confidence building have
to be strengthened and intensified around the issue of Xateros.
Email
Print