P.M. stands by decision to release Mexican soldiers

Prime Minister Barrow tried hard to explain today, the release of four Mexican soldiers who were nabbed by police for an undeclared and unlicensed firearm. According to Barrow, the decision was taken on the advice of the Ministry of National Security which today in a release quotes articles one, two, twenty-two and a hundred and eighteen of the Geneva Convention which says that quote “the contracting parties undertake to respect the present convention in all circumstances” even in times of peace. The release went on to contend that because the Mexicans identified themselves as soldiers to the police officer they are eligible for protection and because there were no hostilities between the two countries, the decision was taken to release the soldiers. With the detention and imprisonment of four Belizeans in Chetumal still fresh in the minds of many Belizeans, that reasoning is a tough pill to swallow. The .P.M stood by the convention and his Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo and C.E.O. Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett. He also cited an occasion in which the convention was used to free Belizean soldiers in Mexico.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“Something similar happened in 1999 except the shoe was on the other foot where members of the B.D.F. entered Mexican territory in possession of their weapons and that it was these same provisions of the Geneva Convention that were used by the Belize government in order to get the Mexicans to repatriate the Belizeans. I am certainly prepared to accept General Gillett’s position that these provisions do govern and I feel what has been done is unexceptionable. Treaty provisions apart, government in the exercise of its sovereignty is able to use its discretion and in certain circumstances where even though technically, an offence is committed, we’re talking about the soldiers of a neighbouring country that is extremely friendly to us, that cooperates with us in the area of security. I honestly don’t see that the ministry can be faulted for handing back the soldiers in the particular circumstances. There is nothing earth shattering, in my view there is nothing wrong with government taking a policy decision with respect to Mexico an extremely friendly country with whom we have excellent relations, that we would take a decision not to prosecute these soldiers and hand them back. I am prepared to stand on that decision outside of the Geneva Convention.”