OAS rep. will report w/in days on shooting deaths

This week, representatives of the Organization of American States are in Belize to conduct an investigation into the shooting incident at San Vicente Village in the Toledo District. On Tuesday, O.A.S. Director in Nicaragua, Sergio Caramanga arrived in the country and has already travelled to the area to begin his investigation. Caramanga is accompanied by representatives of both the Belizean and Guatemalan Foreign Ministries. As part of his investigation, Caramanga will be interviewing the members of the BDF/Police patrol as to the events of that day. According to a government press release, Caramanga will conclude his investigation and present his findings to the O.A.S. facilitators, namely Sir Shridath Ramphal and Dr. Paul Reichler within the next few days. Three members of a Guatemalan family were killed by Belizean soldiers on November twenty-second after they allegedly attacked the patrol with machetes while on Belizean territory.

As for the bi-lateral discussions, at a meeting of the National Advisory Commission on the Guatemalan claim and the negotiating team, Chief Negotiator Assad Shoman gave a summary of the latest developments in the facilitation process. Apparently, the facilitators feel substantial progress has been made, but a number of details remain unsolved. To deal with these issues, technical experts from a third party will have to be brought into the discussions. On December eighteenth, the date for the next ministerial level meeting will be proposed. It is expected that at that meeting, recommendations for a comprehensive solution to the territorial claim will be presented to both Belize and Guatemala.