Returning soldiers get warm welcome

It was the climax to a drama, the likes of which Belize had not experienced in its 18 years of nationhood. The Phillip Goldson International Airport…late Friday night…a room full of anxious relatives…a tiny airplane bearing precious cargo. This was the scene of the emotional homecoming of the three Belizean soldiers and a Belizean police officer who had been kidnapped on Thursday, February 24th, by the Guatemalan military near the Belize Guatemala border. It was the perfect end to an extraordinary experience. News Five’s Janelle Chanona and cameraman Brent Toombs had the special privilege of being part of the welcoming committee.

The plane landing, the men walking in, hugging their families

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

There were tears of joy all around as the “Belizean Four” saw their families for the first time after nine days of being illegally detained in Centro Detencion in Santa Elena, Peten.

Details surrounding their release are still sketchy but the Government of Belize insists that there was no bribery or bail involved. Ambassador at Large Eamon Courtenay says it was a court document that allowed the men to come home.

Eamon Courtenay, Ambassador at Large

“I want to emphasize firstly that the release of the officers was not secured by any agreement. It was an order of the court. First thing. We have viewed this matter, from the very beginning, as an isolated event that we hope will be resolved diplomatically. Ambassador Figueroa has returned to Guatemala. We have not let up on the diplomatic efforts that we’ve undertaken and my hope is that good sense will prevail and diplomacy will bring an end to the case that is still sitting in the court in Poptun.”

The four Belizeans maintained their innocence throughout their ordeal, stating that they were on routine border patrol near the village of Jalacte in the Toledo district when twenty-five members of the Guatemalan military came upon them and insisted they were in Guatemalan territory. The Belizean patrol says they were tricked into going with the Guatemalans to their military base, on the premise that they were simply going to await the arrival of technicians from both sides to verify exactly where the incident took place. Instead, the Belizeans were handed over to the Guatemalan Police and got an inside look at a Guatemalan jail and courthouse. The three soldiers were charged with possession of an offensive weapon and transporting prohibited ammunition. The police officer had been charged with possession of a defensive weapon. As part of legal proceedings in Guatemala, the men also had to make declarations, statements of who and where they were when they were met by the Guatemalan military. On Friday, March 3rd, the lawyer for the Belizeans, Telesforo Guerra Cahn stood before Magistrate Marco Posados Pechilla and successfully argued that the men be released on “grant of bail.” Ambassador Salvador Figueroa signed the dotted line and the Belizeans got on the plane. But that doesn’t mean the case ends there.

Salvador Figueroa, Interim Ambassador to Guatemala

“I think there’s going to be sufficient investigation on their part to show that there’s no reason to follow up. I suppose legally in their minds that they think they have the right to do so, but we’re not going to worry about that right now. As I said, the important thing is that we have them here.”

Because of this incident, technical talks with Guatemalan officials scheduled to be held in Miami in late February were suspended. Ambassador Eamon Courtenay says he hopes those talks can continue and that incidents like this one, remain isolated.

Eamon Courtenay

“I would hope that we are able to resume the talks that were suspended in Miami. Belize and Guatemala are neighbours and we should be friends. This is obviously an isolated incident, I hope it remains an isolated incident and I have every confidence that we will be able to work well in the future.”

Salvador Figueroa

“I think it should be understood that there are a lot of friends in Guatemala too, not all of them are enemies. I don’t think any of them really are. This is a political problem that’s gone on and sometimes people get caught up in it. But in the end, we felt, I certainly felt, that there were a lot of people that were supportive and understanding of what we were doing.”

Janelle Chanona

“What is the first thing you’re going to do now that you can do whatever you want to?”

Lance Corporal Lucio Arana

“It’s been a long time in the cell. I would just want to have a nice cold Belizean beer.”

Private Luciano Tzub

“For me, I just want to get a little break so I can gain back my courage, because first time in my life I’ve been in a jail like that and at least I experience something.”

P. C. Macedonio Sanchez

“From a police point view, I would just like to get together with my family. I miss them a lot and the job must go on.”

Lt. Romaldo Herrera

“Thank you very much to every single individual, especially every single person that’s been wearing the yellow ribbon. I know that it’s the job of the BDF and the Minister to get us out there, that’s their job, their responsibility but still we, the four of us, but we appreciate it greatly, the efforts put into getting us back home. Mr. Courtenay, Mr. Figueroa, the commandant, the Prime Minister, we would like to thank them personally and the general public for support.”