Belizean prisoners wait one more day before going to court

Four imprisoned Belizeans will have to wait one more day before facing a judge in Guatemala. News from Santa Elena, Peten, is that they will appear before a justice of the peace on Thursday to be formally arraigned on charges of possession of illegal weapons. No reason for the delay was given but the news comes as personnel changes are being made on Belize’s diplomatic team. Ambassador Mike Mena was flown today from Guatemala City to Houston where he will be treated for complications from pneumonia and other illnesses. Mena had been ill for several weeks and his condition worsened during his trip to Miami for the aborted talks with Guatemala last week. When he traveled to Santa Elena to visit the Belizean prisoners he could barely walk but was determined to carry out his duties. He has been replaced by Ambassador Salvador Figueroa. Figueroa, who is currently accredited to Mexico, formally served as ambassador to Guatemala in the early 90’s and is well known and respected in that country’s diplomatic circles. This evening he joined Ambassador Eamon Courtenay in Santa Elena to accompany the four detainees to court and ensure that their material needs are being met. Before leaving Guatemala City Figueroa held talks with Guatemalan deputy foreign minister Antonio Castellanos. While details of that meeting were not available it is understood that the two sides will maintain a continuing dialog aimed at achieving an early settlement of the current prisoner crisis. Second Lieutenant Romaldo Herrera, Lance Corporal Luciano Arana, Private Lucio Tzub and Police Constable Macedonio Sanchez were captured last Thursday by Guatemalan troops while on patrol near the Belize Guatemala border in the Toledo District. The Belizeans insist that they were over 100 meters inside Belize when they were detained and taken into Guatemala. To bolster that argument the Ministry of National Security today released the exact coordinates radioed from the captured men as read from their GPS instrument. According to Lieutenant Herrera, his first position upon encountering Guatemalan troops placed him at coordinate BN 6415 9297. This would put him well inside Belizean territory. The GPS readings are accurate within ten meters. In related news, Belize’s Ombudsman Paul Rodriguez received a visit from his Guatemalan counterpart Dr. Aranda today. He was also scheduled to meet with the President of the Human Rights Commission Simeon Sampson to discuss the conditions under which the four Belizeans are being detained.