A "very disappointing" act of "bad faith." That's what Belize's Ministry of National Security is calling the show of aggression by the Guatemalan Military on the Sarstoon River two days ago.
As we showed you, the Guatemalans attempted to block the Belize Territorial Volunteers and SATIIM from going down the Sarstoon. The BDF had to swoop in to escort the BTV vessel - even as the Guatemalans continued to trail them.
Well, in a statement sent early this morning, Government confirms, quote, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is lodging a strong protest to the Government of Guatemala." End quote. And, more than that the release says the aggressive maneuvers, quote, "demonstrate bad faith at a time when both countries have made significant progress in moving towards a permanent solution to the long-standing unfounded territorial claim." End quote.
Interestingly the Ministry's official account of the incident varies significantly from what we saw on the BTV's video.
The release says, quote, "The group was being escorted by the Belize Coast Guard in a BDF metal shark type patrol vessel when they were approached by two GAF metal shark vessels, which intercepted the civilians and asked them to turn around. The BDF patrol commander informed the GAF that they would not turn around and that the civilians were being escorted by the BDF. The Belizean vessels proceeded along the river." End quote. Now, the BTV's Will Maheia says they had there was no Coast Guard escort - and the BTV team was all alone when the GAF told them to turn around. He says the BDF appeared after the Guatemalan blockage and told the crew that they should continue because the GAF can't turn them around. That's when the BDF started to escort them - which was bold and brave for a minute, but didn't last long, because, four kilometers before reaching their destination of Black Creek, the BDF patrol vessel had a mechanical failure. We're told the BTV vessel, "Binky," had to haul them back to base.
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