Ex-Diplomat Encourages Belizeans to Stand Up for Sovereignty

Shoman says the new book discusses as well how the claim is affecting life on the ground at the border lines in the west and south. Taking off from the recent situation in Otoxha and Dolores where Guatemalan farmers have been encroaching on Belizean territory, Shoman says Belize does not have to wait for The Hague to begin seriously exercising its sovereignty over all our land, maritime and insular territory.

Assad Shoman

Assad Shoman, Author

“I don’t want this book to become like ‘should we go to the I.C.J. or should we not go?’ I think this book should become, ‘should we fight for our rights and sovereignty, or should we not?’ By whatever means. I was listening to a program the other day by “Mose” Hyde – he was talking about some incursions in Otoxha, and he was saying, I.C.J. or no I.C.J., we have to defend our line – this is the line we have to defend. This book talks about that – that’s how I see it. That we have to do everything we can to defend our sovereignty. I.C.J. is a means to an end, but the end is in our hands to ensure from now which is to defend that line. At any cost, defend it.”