Defence Minister speaks on investigations into incident

Carlos Perdomo

There was another meeting that took place this morning involving Defence Minister Carlos Perdomo and B.D.F. Commandant Dario Tapia. Perdomo established that there were four patrols. According to Perdomo, the shooting of Chuc took place well within Belizean territory and was in self defense.

Carlos Perdomo, Minister of Defence

“The investigation is showing that the B.D.F. was fired upon in Belizean territory—that’s the main thing that we have established—away from the Adjacency Zone and we returned fire. But at each point that we returned fire, we did not pursue, we just withdrew. And so the knowledge of somebody getting wounded or killed, according to the Guatemalan side, we did not know until Monday when we had a link up patrol with the Guatemalan military.”

Jules Vasquez

“So at the time, you had no knowledge that the shots fired by the Belize security forces had inflicted, as they report, a fatal injury.”

Carlos Perdomo

“Right, we returned fire to defend our life and withdrew.”

Jules Vasquez

“Are you able to specify the location?”

Carlos Perdomo

“Well, I have it in grid form but…”

Marleni Cuellar

“But it is definitive that it is in Belizean territory.”

Carlos Perdomo

“It is definitive. Our investigation so far clearly shows that it is not only in Belizean territory but away from the adjacency zone even.”

Jules Vasquez

“Which means that it’s more than one kilometer into Belizean territory?”

Carlos Perdomo

“Right. The adjacency zone is one kilometer from the border and these incidents occurred over a kilometer into Belize. What we do know is that in the Chiquibul, we had an operation that was divided into four patrols. The first patrol, Alpha, came under contact twice so it is likely—we don’t have any definite proof—but maybe the second contact might be the same group or whatever. Then a second patrol, Bravo, had a contact but that contact was light. It was quick, it was one shot, the B.D.F. responded with another shot to deter and it ended. That third contact with the second patrol was minimal. With the first patrol, Alpha it was twice.”

Jules Vasquez

“And these happened within a time span of…?”

Carlos Perdomo

“Well, if I remember correctly, one occurred at twelve-thirty and the other maybe a few hours later.”

Once the investigation is completed, the official response to Guatemala will be made by the Foreign Ministry.