Subject: Belize-Guatemala Border
Date: Nov 10, 2000 @ 17:40
Author: Doug Murray ("Doug Murray" <doug_murray@...>)
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Some interesting events surrounding the Belize/Guatemala border...
 
The first 3 stories from Belize's "The Reporter" newspaper.
The final one from Channel 5 Belize Television.
 
 
***
Milestone agreement for Belize and Guatemala

The Organization of American State Permanent Council this week approved a
resolution,  proposed by delegations from both Guatemala and Belize for
further confidence-building measures over the ongoing territorial dispute.

Assad Shoman, Senior Ambassador with ministerial rank represented Belize
during a session of the OAS Permanent Council held on Wednesday, November
8, at the OAS headquarters in Washington D.C.

Representing Guatemala was its foreign minister Gabriel  (Orellana Rojas.
Both men signed an agreement to adopt a comprehensive set of
confidence-building measures to avoid further incidents between the  two
countries.

OAS Secretary General  Cesar Gaviria, congratulated both countries for the
milestone agreement their delegation has reached so far in their quest for
a peaceful settlement over the dispute.

" This is a very significant step that clears the way for the negotiations
on the substance of the differendum to be addressed in a climate of mutual
confidence and tranquility for both governments and for the people living
in the area. It faithfully reflects the commitment of both parties to the
process and their will for peace," Secretary General Gaviria said.

Based on the proposal, the OAS went ahead and approved a resolution that
supports the process of negotiation. It has also established a special fund
to support the negotiation by financing the costs of the work of the panel
of facilitators in the dialogue.
" The decision of the Permanent Council underlines the commitment of the
OAS to continue promoting and supporting the peaceful resolution of
disputes between member states," Gaviria said.
***
BDF in morale crisis
Commandant designate dismisses internal gripes

Guatemala's continuous unfounded claim to Belizean soil along with reports
of serious tension among its ranks, is causing great concern for the men
and women in the Belize Defence Force.

"We are suffering in silence. There is a serious situation that we have to
deal with from the outside, as well as serious internal problems that
continue to go unnoticed with-in the BDF," said one of two high ranking BDF
officers and a private who Reporter interviewed this week.

"Our soldiers are sitting on a time bomb. There is frustration and
disappointment on a day-to-day basis. There will come a point when our
soldiers, out of frustration, will show absolutely no respect to us at the
senior level, and unfortunately nothing is being done to address these
problems," expressed a calm but serious top BDF officer.

The tension, they said, became even more intense after the apprehension by
Guatemalan soldiers, of three of their soldiers and a police officer in
February of this year.

"Border patrols were suspended after the apprehension of the four security
personnel. After these men were freed on bail in Guatemala, they jumped
bail and returned to Belize. The decision to have them jump bail, could
escalate into serious impact on our soldiers who are patrolling the
Belize/Guatemalan borderline.

"Our soldiers are patrolling in fear, as a result of this situation. They
are greatly concerned that should they come across a platoon of Guatemalan
soldiers, which numbers forty strong and who are well equipped with
ammunition, it is likely that they could be easily overpowered and taken
into Guatemala, with the high possibility of being charged and jailed," one
top official said.

Commandant designate of the BDF, Colonel Cedrick Borland, refuted these
allegations and painted a rosier picture of what he described as progress
in the BDF. He conceded that there exist certain threats  along the border
line.

Colonel Borland said that the training which the soldiers go through
requires them to achieve a certain level of readiness. He said that there
is a refresher's course that soldiers participate in, and this keeps them
up with certain standard.

"Our soldiers have been trained to deal with these situations and training
is a continuous process to ensure that our soldiers are kept in the highest
standard," Col. Borland said.
The soldiers meanwhile expressed concern that they have been placed in a
hostile environment.

And with the lack of necessary technical support, due to limited resources,
no systematic plans are in place should they encounter a situation with the
aggressive Guatemalan military.

"There is only one vehicle in operation for the BDF base in Toledo. At
Treetop, there are eight of us, and another group are out on patrol. How
are we going to be assisted should an incident or accident occur if that
only vehicle is not available? There is not even a backup system in place,"
one explained.

Col. Borland refuted this claim, stating that there are two vehicles
available at Fairweather Camp.

Another problem cited is the lack of communication in the BDF. Soldiers
said they are rarely informed of new developments in the BDF. "We usually
hear of these developments through the media. We were never informed of the
appointment of a new commandant. We were never told that the Guatemalans
were very upset over the removal of the flag from Santa Rosa," one of the
top official said.

As to the removal of the flag from the school in Santa Rosa, the soldiers
said that they had to remove the flag during nighttime, when the villagers
were already in their homes.

One soldier says that just recently they came across an illegal Guatemalan
settlement in an area known as Retiro, in the Cayo district. When they
approached the settlers and informed them that they have to return to
Guatemala, the settlers told them boldly that they were not moving, unless
they are told by the Guatemalan military to do so. "These settlers are
still there," he said.

The soldiers also complained of living in deplorable conditions and of the
disrespect shown them by the Ministry of National Security.

Col. Borland was more optimism in the BDF, and said that there is good
communication within the BDF. He said that much improvement has been taking
place at the Fairweather Camp and the two observation posts in the Toledo
District.
****
A Big Thing!
Guatemala claims Belize disrespectful of her flag

Guatemala is making a big thing over the  actions of the BDF in taking down
a Guatemalan flag which was being flown at an illegal settlement within
Belizean borders.

The  Guatemalan  squatters were told to leave and the flag was removed. It
was later delivered over to the Guatemalan Embassy in Belize City.

The Prensa Libre newspaper of Sunday, November 5 reports what happened
later.   President Portillo organized a Flag Tribute ceremony with military
guard of honour and senior members of the government, including Foreign
Minister Orellana.

The dignitaries at the ceremony included the Presidents of the Judiciary
and the Legislature, Hugo Maul Figueroa and Efrain Rios Montt. The flag was
turned over to the Minister of Defence, Juan de Dios Estrada, who
subsequently delivered it to the Minister of Education, Mario Torres.

Torres is to attend a flag-raising ceremony at the opening of the new
school year (2001) for students of Santa Rosa School in Peten. The ceremony
is to be accompanied by a 21-gun salute.

Orellana said during a speech he made on this occasion that it was sheer
insanity to pretend to stain the honour of the Guatemalan flag.

He said that Guatemala was sending a message to Belize and to the world
that Guatemala would defend her homeland ("su tierra y su hogar")!

Orellana added: "The government of Belize realized the error it had
committed, and in response to the just Guatemalan  protest, had returned
the patriotic  symbol."
Ambassador Jorge Skinner Klee made a special trip from Belize to take the
flag back to Guatemala. He handed it over to President Alfonso Portillo.
The elaborate ceremony was held at the Guatemalan Air Force base  in the
capital.

Ambassador Skinner Klee also took the opportunity while in Guatemala to
report that his Embassy in Belize had received a bomb threat. He said also
that the consulate in Belize had been the target of "criminal acts", namely
robberies involving the property of Guatemalan diplomats.

The Prensa Libre notes that Guatemala is claiming 12.272 square kilometers
of land from Belize.

It provided no details as to what part of the country the Guatemalans now want.
Prensa Libre reported also that during the last three years, incursions by
the Belize military have intensified against  settlements in the province
of Peten.
***
From Channel 5:
Details released of Belize-Guatemala agreement

More details have become available on the agreement signed Wednesday between Belize and Guatemala. The twelve point document, signed at OAS headquarters in Washington D.C., deals solely with confidence building measures that will be undertaken by both countries along their common border.

Article one lays the groundwork by stipulating that the measures outlined in the document are temporary for the purpose of easing tensions and do not prejudice any claims to sovereignty by either country over any territory, now or in the future.

Article two states that unless extended by mutual agreement, these measures expire on August thirty-first, 2001.

Article three, while noting one and two, specifies recognition of what is called an "adjacency line." Coincidentally, this adjacency line exactly follows the traditional borderline from Gracias a Dios in the south to Garbutt's Falls and Aguas Turbias in the north. Use of the line, however, does not imply that it represents an international boundary.

Under article four, the parties agree to identify all existing markers and survey the line. They will also identify all settlements within one kilometre on each side.

Article five specifies that this two kilometre wide swath of land shall be called the "adjacency zone."

Article six, the real meat of the agreement, deals with how things will be run in the adjacency zone, namely: all settlements which existed in the zone as of October first of this year shall remain undisturbed, save for marijuana farms. Those settlements established after October first and lie east of the line may be removed by the Belize Government, using a set procedure. All settlers in the zone prior to October first will be identified and their nationality documented. Any Guatemalans residing on the Belize side of the line and any Belizeans on the Guatemalan side will be issued a license to stay and are bound to respect the laws of the country on the particular side of the line where they reside. Additionally, Guatemala will undertake a campaign to dissuade its citizens from settling to the east of the adjacency line, and at the same time the two countries' military forces will co-ordinate their activities in the area.

Articles seven through eleven obligate the two countries to promote community contacts across the line, facilitate traffic and meet regularly to avoid conflicts. These measures will include the prevention of incidents, which could cause tension, and the formulation of plans for a response to natural disasters.

Finally, article twelve asks the parties to monitor the confidence building measures and work together to resolve any problems. If that proves difficult, then any contentious issues should be referred to the two facilitators who may, if they wish, ask the OAS to appoint a fact-finding mission.

The facilitator for Belize is Sir Shridath Ramphal, while Guatemala has appointed Paul Reichler. The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C. by Belizean Ambassador Assad Shoman and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Gabriel Orellana.

Cheers!

 

Doug