Caribbean News Now!

By Caribbean News Now contributor

BELMOPAN, Belize -- Initial investigations have confirmed that a Guatemalan logger, who was shot and killed by Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldiers, was carrying two firearms at the time that he was confronted by the BDF in a protected national park.

The incident took place on July 19 in the Toledo District of Belize, involving BDF soldiers and a group of three Guatemalan citizens, which resulted in the death of one of the Guatemalan citizens and the arrest of the other two, who were charged with illegal entry into the country and illegal logging in a protected national park.

A statement issued by the Organization of American States (OAS) on Friday confirmed that the incident took place more than 3 km from the Adjacency Line outside the Adjacency Zone administered by Belize; that the Guatemalan citizens were felling trees in a protected national park; and that the deceased Guatemalan citizen was carrying two firearms at the time that he was confronted by the BDF.

Although the full investigation has yet to be completed, the OAS said it is important to note that the government of Belize has given Guatemalan authorities full access to interview the arrested Guatemalan citizens, as well as to the autopsy of the deceased, during which a Guatemalan forensic doctor was present. Members of the Embassy of Guatemala in Belize were also able to visit the site of the incident.

This incident, together with other priority issues on the bilateral agenda, will be discussed at the high level meeting between Belize and Guatemala at the deputy minister level, which will take place next Tuesday at OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC.

“The events of the past week emphasize the urgency of finding a permanent and peaceful solution to the centuries-old territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala and thus the importance of submitting the differendum to the International Court of Justice for final settlement,” the OAS said.

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Karim Bennett:

This incident has nothing to the with the border dispute. It has to do with Guatemalans not respecting Belizean lands and resources. Whether its an adjacency zone or a border or perimeter fence, Guatemalans or any other foreignor for that matter has no right for illegally entering Belizean territory and exploiting natural resoures in a protected area. Even Belizeans are prohibited from exploring such areas, much less illegal trespassers.