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Guatemala provokes incident at the Sarstoon

By on March 14, 2016
Sarstoon River, Belize (Courtesy Google Earth)

Sarstoon River, Belize
(Courtesy Google Earth)

Punta Gorda town, TOLEEDO. Monday, March 14, 2016. Tensions were at fever pitch on Saturday evening on the Sarstoon.

The Guatemalan military provoked the entire incident by behaving in what the government of Belize calls, “an extremely hostile and threatening manner.”

We were first alerted about the confrontation on Saturday night when we were told that the Guatemala military had accosted BDF soldiers at the Sarstoon River and were being belligerent towards them.

Forward Operating Base (Sarstoon, Belize)

Forward Operating Base
(Sarstoon, Belize)

On Sunday afternoon, the government of Belize confirmed that there was an incident saying that it happened in the area of Belize’s Forward Operating Base, and that the Guatemala military insisted that our troops should not be at the Sarstoon.

The BDF stood their ground and after a standoff, the Guatemalan military personnel backed off.

An official government press statement says that the Commander of the BDF Brigadier General David Jones has since spoken with his Guatemalan equal about the incident, and the government press release notes that Prime Minister Dean Barrow has sent a message to President Jimmy Morales.

The official release mentions that another “strongly worded protest note,” has been sent to Guatemala by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Barrow convened a special meeting of the National Security Council this afternoon to discuss Saturday evening’s provocation by Guatemala.

The special meeting came as talks are about to get underway in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday between Belize and Guatemala.

Tuesday’s talks are being held under the auspices of the Organization of American States, where the primary focus was expected to be financing for the OAS office in the Adjacency Zone.

However, Belizean government officials hope that the Sarstoon River incident of Saturday, March 12, will be brought up and ventilated.

The official government press release says that Belize has informed key members of the international community, including the United States and the United Kingdom about what is described as “the extremely critical situation.”

Joining Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is in Washington, D.C. for the OAS meeting, is former Foreign Minister Assad Shoman who is representing the Opposition People’s United Party.

Belize continues to insist on its sovereignty rights in the Sarstoon in accordance with the 1859 Treaty which demarcates the river.

2 Comments

  1. MNHG

    March 14, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    ALL YOU BELIZEANS LIKE THAT.YES,BUT IF YOU STOP BUYING GUATEMALAN PRODUCTS YOU CAN SEND YOUR MESSAGE.STOP USING GUATEMALAN TAXIS , CONSTRUCTORS,perfume vendors, plastic products venders, shoe shiners ETC. ETC.
    LOOK AT THE HALKSWORTH BRIDGE !!! ALL ALIENS WORKING THERE !!! ALL SPANISH SPEAKING GUATES WORKING AT THE HALKSWORTH BRIDGE IN CAYO.YOU BELIZEANS LIKE THAT,GO TRY TO WORK IN GUATEMALA, YOU GET KILLED!!!

    Reply

    • Concerned citizen

      March 16, 2016 at 6:29 am

      You are an idiot @ mnhg

      Reply

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