Has a Preliminary Report on Chiquibul Been Completed?
The attempt by Guatemala to inspire international outrage against Belize following last Wednesday incident in the Chiquibul continues unabated. In an interview we aired on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales claimed that he had lobbied support from Foreign Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean in condemning Belize. He also claimed that he wants Belize brought before the Inter-American Human Rights Court. But while the push continues on that front, for obvious reasons, the fact is that no entity, neither the O.A.S. nor Belize nor Guatemala have concluded an investigation into the incident. News Five has received reports that at least a preliminary report from the O.A.S. has been completed, and we asked Brigadier General David Jones for confirmation.
Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander, Belize Defense Force
“There’s nothing official from them yet, absolutely nothing official so there isn’t anything to add yet because the investigation is ongoing.”
Mike Rudon
“Can you speak to a report that we’ve heard that the O.A.S. is stating that there was or might have indeed been an ambush situation where the B.D.F. and the rangers patrolling were ambushed?”
David Jones
Brig. Gen. David Jones
“They haven’t officially stated anything yet so I won’t say they have said because they have not put anything official as yet.”
Mike Rudon
“Is there anything else you can tell us about the actual incident? You have started your version of the incident, but there are still some holes in terms of the B.D.F. coming under fire. But can you say if it was fire as in one shot, two shots, three shots, ten shots; automatic weapons, anything like that?”
Brig. Gen. David Jones
“No, I don’t have those details and I would prefer that to come out from the investigation. Those people that were involved in that incident have been interviewed and based on that interview; the official report will come out.”
Mike Rudon
“Are you concerned that as was stated at the press conference, but that Guatemala continues to get what seems to be an upper hand in terms of getting this situation out there? As the Prime Minister stated, there is no mention of the B.D.F. coming under fire, there is no mention of this thing happening in the dead of night; there is no version of the story that would help Belize.”
Brig. Gen. David Jones
“Well that version as expressed nationally by myself. The information I put out there is the same information that was aired two days ago, when we had the press conference. I gave the version and that version articulated that we came under fire, it was in the dark and we acted in self-defense and that remains the same position.”
