HISTORY OF VIOLENCE from 7News Belize on Vimeo.
As we told you earlier, the Unions have flared up at what they call an attempt at Union busting by the government. With this fresh infusion of bad blood and the allegation of union busting - the stage is set for a mass teachers' demonstration a week from today in Belmopan. We'll be there in our customary position on the frontline.
That frontline is not always a friendly space - particularly in the last 12 years when many times the idea of a peaceful protest has fractured into violence. Jules Vasquez has been on the frontline for nearly all this events - and tonight he looks back at the history of violence from April of 2001 in Orange Walk to January of 2013 on Basra Street. Here's his report:..
Jules Vasquez reporting
When the mob exploded in anger against the B-SAG on Basra Street two weeks ago leading to a pint being thrown at the unit And Guns being pointed at the mass of civilians it resulted, perhaps avoidably, in shots being fired, more pints being thrown and more shots being fired.
The rough action gave us pause to reflect on the history of violence and social resistance we've witnessed in the past 12 years.
We've seen bonfires in day and night even bonfires at dawn and there's nothing like a bus company bonfire - you know with all those old tires.
So much better than those pilinky bonfires civilians set. We've seen bridge bonfires amidst the post-riot rubble and bridge bonfires before the riot as well. We've also seen ministers vehicles shaken up and police vehicles burnt up and where was this hose when they needed it?
But a hose can't stop stones thrown at police shields or at police without shields and sometimes even police have to resort to stone throwing but the mob always has more stones and pints on the ready and hands of stone for this soldier. We've seen lots of stuff.
But the first time we saw live rounds being fired by security forces into a crowd was in 2001 at the Tower Hill Bridge. This soldier famously fired nine shots into a rebellious crowd there were real injuries from that M-16 - multiple injuries and the usual panicked desperation.
And then again in Benque Viejo in 2002 - all hell broke loose - and this teenager was brought to the ground by an M-16 fired by security forces.
And then in 2005, in Belize City it was a different situation when these looters tried to wrest away a police weapon and shots were fired as they ran off live rounds being fired. And then again in 2009, at the BSI factory in Orange Walk we saw live rounds being used and again, injuries and panicked desperation culminating tragically in Antonio Guttierrez being killed in the back of the truck.
Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney
Today I saw a man get shot in the head right in front of me. It's totally unnecessary for this to happen. I saw another Belizean died today and I am saddened by that."
Live rounds being used on protestors - so only twice have civilians been hurt or killed in the act of social unrest but that remembrance won't quell the fires of protest.
And when it comes down to it, the use of deadly force by lawmen has never been penalized in Belize.
A 2001 Commission of Inquiry found no wrongdoing for the 9 rounds fired into the crowd. Since then, we have not been told of the result of any investigations in subsequent events - in fact, we don't even know that there have been any such inquests.
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