Guatemalans call Ya’axchѐ conservation post a military outpost
By the time the technocrats get through all the red tape, it’s going to be quite a while before the dispute reaches the ICJ, if it does. But in the meantime, the tension on the ground has not waited for diplomacy to find a way. Though Fred Martinez says that all Guatemalan settlements have been removed, there are some twenty Guatemalans at various locations along the border who are yet to be removed. But settlements aren’t the only issue; Guatemalans are frequently crossing the border. NGOs such as Ya’axche and Friend’s for Conservation and Development have been managing the reserves encroached by illegal immigrants. That issue came up for discussion today and according to Martinez an observation post deep in the Columbia River Reserve, established by Ya’axche, drew a firestorm from Guatemala because the NGO requested a small B.D.F. contingent for protection. Across the river, Guatemalans from the Village of Carrizal took offense to what they deemed a militarization of the border. The Guatemalan press got a hold of the complaint in October of 2009, and Martinez says the Guatemalan government has questioned what they refer to as a military post.
Fred Martinez, Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala
“All settlements of Guatemalans living in Belize have been removed over the past years—two years, three years ago—so there are no settlements as we know them to be inside of Belize where they set up shop and village and etcetera. These incursions, as we call them, are either people coming in to harvest Xate leaves, people coming in to do illegal logging, people coming in to clear forest close to the border line; because they have no land. They come into our green areas, clear a piece of forest and begin planting their milpa, corn and beans and it is a never ending process of trying to contain these people. It is a never ending task that Belize Defense have and our forest guards along with the two NGO’s that help us manage the Chiquibul and the Columbia National Reserve and the Vaca Plateau Reserve. The one that created the problem is the one at Machaquilla, which was set up by the NGO, Friends for Conservation and Ya’axchѐ conservation trust from the Columbia River Reserve. They set up that conservation post to be manned by their forest guards but then they requested the B.D.F. to provide security for them which then the B.D.F. assigned seven men when they do patrols in the region. The setting up of that conservation post triggered a reaction from the villagers across the border in Guatemala. There is a village across the border call El Carrizal. These villagers then immediately began protesting to their congressman in Petén and to the press in Guatemala that Belize has set up a military post and it was too close for comfort. The presence of that post there kept them under restraint from coming in across to Belize and do their incursions into our national forests. That then in turn triggered off the Guatemalan government to issue a note to us questioning this ‘military post’ and accusing Belize of militarizing the border.”
why not make a bulldozer open a 20ft line opening boundry to show our side of the land. one’s they cross the open section it means they are illegally entering. with all the millions the goverment is barrowing make high voltage electrical fence to keep them away from our jewel. those guatemalans have no civilization worst those who live in the bush.
GUATEMALA IS THE ENEMY WE CANNOT FORGET THAT, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WITH THE OUTPOST AND THE MILITARY. THIS IS BELIZE AND WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT WHENEVER WE WANT AND WE SHOULDN’T CARE ABOUT WHAT ANY OTHER COUNTRY HAS TO SAY. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR LANDS AND RIVERS. WHAT GUATEMALA NEED TO DO IS TO GIVE THEIR PEOPLE LAND AND ENCOURAGE THEM NOT TO COME TO BELIZE
What about the military camp as you enter Melchor de Mencos. They have a right to protect themselves and we dont. Belizeans are not the ones crossing over and if they feel threatened then it clearly shows that they are guilty of something. Having military presence clearly shots down the illegal activities that is happening in the area. But then again if our Minister had took the issues seriously from the beginning and stop covering all the stuff happeing at the border then they would see that as a country we stand firm. The problem in Guatemala is that the Rich can have easier access to land so they claim a portion of Belize and will forever claim so that the poor will keep coming an squatting illegally in Belize thinking that they are entitled to it. Government official make your force self sufficient learn from Israel small but very powerful. Learn to utilize your army. Learn to use your human resource and stop selling our nationality for a vote.
I agree we need to buldoze our western border and let the guatmalans know where the border is. Next thing Belize needs to recruit more soldiers so that guatemala will think twice of a possible invasion, also with more manpower our belizean soldiers will be able to patrol and deter illegal activities within our borders. more troops is what we need.
they will steal the bulldozer just like the other one. they done care if we bulldoze our resources
First things first… I think our Govt. Officials are a bunch of sissy foot babies that area afraid to push their weight around on anyone other that us Belizeans. The rape and pillage our resources, funds and future to benefit themselves and their cronies but then when things start get dread and rash they run to international organizations for advice and aide. My goodness man, are we not an independent country? To make people feel better, there is no way Guatemala will make a successful run to try to take our jewel from us, try they may. There are lots of military power in our allies that are ready to move at the drop of a dime, why do you think Venzuela and Cuba are so close to Belize and I don’t mean that by distance.
I see like this, the squatters are called spies. They come in, pretend to work the land and make us think they are ignorant. We have to realize that Guatemalans are brainwashed in this thinking from the moment they start to comprehend. There is no way to combat ignorance. Marking borders will not help, look at the Southern US for reference.
I do believe that increasing spending in our defense arena and making those growths felt will drastically decrease the crossings and will show the enemies that we no di play. I would also like to see the Govt invest more in our education system so we can have more advancements in the technology field so our people can develop new defense techs and such. I know this is a bold stride but with due time and support from the govt and private sectors it can be done.
We need to lower our dependence on other to make decisions for us. It’s time we take our Independence seriously politicians. We put you there so you can ensure a better future for all Belizeans, so that you can provide security and protection, ever increasing education and opportunities, I could go on and on but I think I will stop here..
This is a call to our politicians: Step up to the plate, do your jobs honestly and with respects and do what you were put there to do. You need to be honest to your citizens, remember what is done in the dark must one day come out to light. Lets get this ball rolling before it’s too late.
For Belize and all Belizeans…
every one is crying about the Guatemalans, how about all the land being sold to the white man. the problem is that alll that money is not going to the belizean people. ask the Ministers where it is. all our best land is being sold to the white man for a little money to mantain the ministers bad habits and we are making a big deal about some bush people are trying to work so that they can eat…
Look at Isreal a small country in the middle East. Big countries have tried to invade them and have failed miserably. Why? Simply because the stratigize and utilize their army. Guatemalans do as they please because we allow them to. We always put our tails between on feet and want peace. I am not sayong we want a war but when you stand firm with zero tolerance to the stuff they are doing then they will get the idea that we are serious. Our ministry of defense needs to create some special forces within the BDF all those bad guys on the streets will have something to do rather than destroy our country. If our Politicians would take time out to analyze the problems and stop pointing at each other there is so much as a country we can achieve. Poverty is our biggest problem. Provide ways to educated our young minds is the way of solving our problem. Politics only divide us as a people and country. Color should not matter and each of us should not let our vote be bought. The change comes from us. And when we deal with our issues then we can deal with other international issues especially this sore that is plaquing us -land dispute with Guatemala. Money can be found and stolen but to do what is needed for the country there always seems to be shortage or none. There is money but it is going into the pockets of the Politicians rather than the country. You and I need ti make the change because if we dont our country will soon be in Guatemala hands.