Guatemalan shot by B.D.F. in Chiquibul Forest

Alexis Rosado

A Guatemalan farmer who was encroaching inside the Chiquibul Forest has been shot by local soldiers. According to reports, on Monday June third, after two p.m., while on a routine patrol, Belize Defense Force soldiers discovered a plantation and a thatch building in the Caballo Camp area of the forest. A Guatemalan national, with a firearm in his possession, rode into the area on horseback. Failing to respond to orders to stop, the man ran into nearby bushes. The soldiers fired warning shots and the man, according to the report, returned fire in their direction. The B.D.F. patrol then shot and injured the man to the abdomen. First aid was rendered on site and the soldiers attempted to move him, but rough terrain and harsh weather made it difficult to escort him from the area until Tuesday morning when he was transported to the Western Regional Hospital. The Guatemalan national has been identified as twenty-seven year old Edgar Alexander Sacasa of Picalito Village. He underwent surgery and is presently admitted in a critical but stable condition under police guard. News Five spoke today to C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexis Rosado, about the incident.

Alexis Rosado, C.E.O., Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“We understand it was well within Belizean territory, two miles within Belize. I received a report earlier this morning that the fellow had been operated at the hospital and that it was a successful operation and the latest report we have is that he is now stable; still under intensive care, but stable. And we are very happy to hear that he is well.”

Marleni Cuellar

“Did that put a wrench in terms of the discussions that you’ve been having with the international community?”

Alexis Rosado

“Well any incident that happens is of concern and we all become concerned. But there is a process that we have to follow when these things happen; that’s why we have the CBM so that we try to keep tensions as low as possible. The protocols kicked in. we immediately called in the Guatemalan Embassy, we informed our Guatemalan counterparts here. We had the O.A.S. office in the adjacency zone informed and participate in the whole verification exercise. So we will get to the bottom of what actually happened but until then, we will just have to hope for the best.”