7 News Belize

Morales Makes Mischief At UN
posted (September 23, 2016)
Right now, Belizean patriots are fuming after Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales took yet another swipe at Belize. Morales spoke on the world Stage at the United Nation's 71st General Assembly in New York, and made it clear that his country just won't let up on the fatal shooting of 14 year-old Julio Ruano, even though Belize's law enforcement team was vindicated in an Independent OAS Investigation. And yesterday, making his debut his amongst world leaders at the UN, Morales used a small section of his first address to continue his country's international campaign against Belize.

Here's that moment at the UN Assembly when he suggested that this shooting and other Guatemalan fatalities in the Chiquibul, has hurt bilateral relations:

Jimmy Morales, President - Guatemala
"Belize, a country with which we aspire to have a privilege relationship and a permanent dialogue for the solution of common problems. However, in recent months we no longer encounter such a reciprocal attitude on the part of the Belizean authorities. Since 1999, the situation has claimed 10 Guatemalan civilian victims in the adjacency zone administered by Belize. On the 20th of April this year, a 14 year old boy was a fatal victim of an attack by armed groups under the command army patrol from that country. According to forensic report by Belize, the child died from multiple gun wounds from a high powered riffle. The Guatemalan forensic service confirmed that there were 9 bullet wounds; 6 of which were in his back; 2 were in the back of the neck and one in the front. These grave acts directly harm the bilateral relationship and hinder progress towards building trust. I wish to reaffirm the will of the state of Guatemala is to find within the framework of international law, a definitive solution to the dispute with Belize, while also drawing the attention to the international community to the risks to international security while maintaining the impasse on dispute and consequently the geographical delimitation. Because it's no secret that partial transnational criminal organizations thrive on the differences between states and are capable of occupying pockets within undefined territories that lack effective control."

Well, Belize's third party, the BPP isn't letting it go, and today, they fired off a release basically demanding that the Belize Government set the record straight.

A party release says, quote, "...Guatemalan President, Jimmy Morales proceeded to blatantly spread untruths…the Guatemalans shall go to any lengths to seek to demonize Belize and Belizeans." End Quote.

Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington is scheduled to make Belize's presentation at this UN General Assembly on Sunday.

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