New Details Emerge on Two-Day Confrontation in the Chiquibul
Four days after two standoffs between a joint team of B.D.F., forestry personnel, Friends for Conservation and Development rangers and Guatemalan soldiers and civilians occurred in the Chiquibul Reserve, and after many requests made to the B.D.F. and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information, the ministry has issued a press release. The incident occurred last Friday and Saturday in the area of Rio Blanco.
The ministry’s release states in part that, “On July twenty-third and twenty-fourth, 2021, both Guatemalan soldiers and armed Guatemalan civilians entered Belizean territory near the area where the B.D.F. was conducting their operations…The routine operations involved the destruction of fences and plantations of beans and pumpkin seeds that were verified by the Organization of American States to be in Belizean territory. It is reported that on July twenty-third, 2021, there was some crossfire. A Guatemalan helicopter was also seen flying overhead. On both days, members of the Guatemalan Army entered Belizean territory to inquire from the B.D.F. about their operations. Following those cordial verbal exchanges, the G.A. personnel returned to the Guatemalan side of the border.”
News Five has been reliably informed, however, that while carrying out tasks on July twenty-third, the B.D.F. initially spotted nine Guatemalans, five of whom approached the B.D.F. Three of the assailants were on foot and two were on horseback. The B.D.F. ordered them back and they retreated to a hilltop where about twenty other persons joined them, raised a Guatemalan flag and built a fire. Our source said that while the B.D.F. were destroying a fence, five Guatemalans – two of whom were armed with rifles – approached the members of the F.C.D. and fired shots at the rangers. One of the rangers fired back one round and the B.D.F. then advanced and fired two more rounds at the Guatemalans who then reportedly fled the area.
The source also mentions the Guatemalan army helicopter appearing not long afterwards, flying over the patrol then landing on the Guatemalan side, where upon eight Guatemalan soldiers approached the Guatemalan civilians on the hill. The soldiers then approached the B.D.F., but were stopped and informed they were in Belizean territory and they said they were there to ensure that no Guatemalan property was destroyed. They were briefed that all areas being destroyed were within Belizean territory and had been verified by the O.A.S. They were asked to explain this to the Guatemalan civilians.
The following day, on Saturday, another group of Guatemalan civilians and soldiers, accompanied by another commander, went to the area where the commander said he was checking on what had been reported. As had happened the day before, they were informed that they were in Belizean territory where the illegal farm was. They were told to verify this information with the O.A.S. after which the group retreated to the hilltop where they watched the operations.
