Belize police, British Army, meet the press

Progress is coming slowly in the case of a fourteen-year-old Belizean boy beaten to death last week by British soldiers. Today a joint press conference was held by police press officer G. Michael Reid and recently arrived British Army spokesman David Falcke. No new details of the investigation into the killing of David Zabaneh Jr. were released, but Falcke assured the media that the investigation will be a thorough one.

David Falcke, British Army Spokesman

“May I start by saying and expressing on behalf of the British Army and the British Government, the deepest sympathy with the family of David Zabaneh and indeed the people of Belize on his death. The lost of a life of one so young is a tragic event. The British Army military police investigators are working closely with the Belize Police Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. No effort will be spared to find the truth and bring the guilty to justice. Relationships between the British Army Training Support Unit Belize and the people of Belize have always been cordial and we value the support and assistance that we receive from the government and the people of Belize. The investigation my take some time, and we will keep you, the press, as closely informed as we can under the circumstances. We do hope that this sad event will not mar the relationships between our two communities.”

Falcke did confirm that in addition to the thirty Gurkhas confined to barracks pending questioning, all British military personnel have been confined to camp in order to avoid any conflict with irate Belizeans. He also explained that questioning of the Gurkhas was being slowed down by a shortage of interpreters needed to communicate effectively with the Nepali speaking troops. Other British soldiers present in Raul’s Rose Garden on the night in question are also being interrogated.