Tonight, the BDF is under scrutiny after a patrol burnt down a Guatemalan man's house, Felipe Martinez Lara, known as "Don Felipe". Information suggests it happened on the Belize side of the Adjacency Zone - which is to say within Belizean territory within the Toledo District. But, there are very specific protocols for removing illegals from this area - and there is some question tonight as to whether these protocols were followed. The process is that any physical encroachment on the border has to confirmed with the office of the OAS Adjacency Zone, and the respective embassy and Foreign Affairs have to be informed, and then action is taken.
There is no confirmation that the necessary steps were followed in this case - and that is why the actions are being viewed on the Guatemalan side as arbitrary - and played up to maximum effect by the Guatemalan press. Press reports say that no less than the Departmental Governor of visited Don Felipe with a gift of groceries - press reports on that side say he visited in the name of Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei. They say it happened in the community of Barrillal, in the municipality of Poptún Petén.
We are told that the same Don Felipe had been a long time encroacher on Belizean soil dating back to at least last year when he was found growing cardamom seeds in the Columbia River Forest Reserve.
We know that the BDF Patrol from the 2nd Infantry Battalion led by a 2nd Lieutenant received orders from force headquarters to proceed with the mission. But, it seems there was some disconnect with the OAS office and the requisite verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Today we texted the Commander of the BDF, General Ortega who said they are sending their report to the BDF. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtenay did not respond to our requests for a comment.
