P.M.’s visit to Guatemala signals new era in relations
Prime Minister Said Musa’s trip to Guatemala City last week to attend the inauguration of the new president marked a chance for a new chapter in Belize Guatemala relations. Since independence in 1981, the issue of the Guatemalan claim to Belize has receded in public mind and in recent years, the issue has arisen only in connection with incidents on the long jungle covered border. Tonight News Five takes a closer look at life across the border and the prospects for settlement of the issues which divide the two nations.
It was an auspicious start for Prime Minister Said Musa. Accorded all the courtesies given to his fellow Central American heads of government, it was the kind of treatment that did not match with any hard line Guatemalan threat to Belizean sovereignty. But between this warm welcome and any settlement of the century and a half-old dispute lies the reality of historical handicaps, political pitfalls, internal instability and constitutional constraints. Outside of the age-old claim to Belize’s territory, there seems to be little curiosity about Guatemala in Belize. At any given time perhaps a hundred of our students are studying there, an equal amount of our citizens go to receive high quality medical care and an increasing number of families stretch over both sides of the border.
Stewart Krohn
“For Belizeans not familiar with Guatemala City, a visit here can be startling. The city is rich and sophisticated… while at the same time, poor and despondent.”
While that description can fit dozens of Third World capitals, the wide economic disparities between Guatemala’s social classes and ethnic groups have produced decades of civil unrest that has only recently abated. After twenty years of decline, Guatemalan tourism — fueled by visitors from Europe — is once again on the rise. Income from higher coffee prices — not to mention a flourishing drug trade — has spawned a boom in the construction industry. But the high life in the Zona Viva has not necessarily been enjoyed by those in other less exciting zones of the city. With a huge mandate of sixty-eight percent of the popular vote, newly elected President Alfonso Portillo will start out his electoral life on a honeymoon… but his future relationship with voters may depend on what he can do about neighborhoods like this and their counterparts in the countryside.
Into this socio-political pressure cooker comes the question of Belize… and of course Belize’s representatives. Our diplomatic presence in Guatemala consists of only three persons: Ambassador Mike Mena, First Secretary Gaspar Ken and administrator Sarita Tome’. While not exactly an enemy territory, Mena admits that old beliefs sometimes die hard.
Mike Mena, Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala
“In the territorial issue, the claim to Belize, they have had this inculcated in their minds since they were very young and it seems very difficult for them to get rid of it.”
Q: “Why is it that certain groups in Guatemala like parts of the press or political parties always seem bent on destabilizing relations between Guatemala and Belize?”
Mike Mena
“Many, many factions of society consider the issue of Belize as a very juicy topic. And it helps them to sell lots of newspapers and everything. They also use it as a weapon against the existing government.”
And that government, whatever its views, must also contend with a constitution that incorporates Belize as its twenty-third province, an inseparable part of the fatherland.
Stewart Krohn
“The root of our territorial problem is best summed up at this massive relief map. Since 1905 generations of visitors have been told that “Belice es Guatemala”. And you know what? A few of them still believe it.”
The critical question for Belizeans is whether President Portillo is among that few. A look at his past offers little in the way of clues. Long considered a disciple of former President Efrain Dios Montt, Portillo’s early moves have shown an independent streak. A promise to curb the power of military and a pledge to do all he can to settle the Belize issue have raised hopes both at home and in Belmopan.
Said Musa, Prime Minister
“I was very surprised and heartened by his expression that he will do everything possible to try and work toward a solution of our differences based on principles and based on norms of international law. It is very encouraging that in his inaugural address he addressed the whole question of Belize trying to set a new tone for relations. We are very confident that with the new government things should improve between our two countries.”
But also lying between the two countries is a border, the exact details of which Guatemala does not seem to recognize. One incident in 1999 led to a Guatemalan civilian being shot dead by a Belizean soldier. Other fatalities have been narrowly avoided. Musa says that even if Guatemala does not officially recognize it as an international border, the line between the two countries at least, must be clearly defined. And its future?
Said Musa
“I believe that time is on our side. More importantly this is something that we cannot lax into a kind of indifference about the matter. It is clearly a situation that our foreign minister must be on guard; we have to be vigilant. At the same time we have to show our willingness to infiltrate, negotiate with Guatemala to provide a solution to our mutual benefits, bearing in mind of course and we have said it time and time again that our territorial integrity and sovereignty are not for negotiation.”
Stewart Krohn reporting for News Five.
It is not known when a new round of negotiations between Belize and Guatemala will be held.
