Commission clears police in Toledo shooting

Last September two Toledo villagers were killed and four wounded following a confrontation in which police and forestry officers squared off against an angry crowd of illegal loggers near Otoxha. Today, the commission of inquiry established to investigate the incident submitted its report to the Prime Minister. According to a government press release, the commission found that the use of deadly force by security personnel was justified in that they reasonably believed their lives were in danger. In addition to exonerating the officers, one of whom was wounded, the commission recommended that residents of areas near forest reserves be given greater economic opportunities, that humanitarian aid be given to innocent shooting victims and that legal action be taken against those illegal loggers who hired the villagers to do their bidding. The commission of inquiry was headed by Dr. Angel Cal of the University of Belize and included Juan Ack, Chairman of the Toledo Alcalde Association and Kent Haylock, former Commissioner of Police.