Today, the family of 28 year old Otoxha resident Sebastian Pop learned that he has been convicted of femicide in Guatemala - news that had eluded them for more than two years. This came in the form of a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which says, quote, "following the conclusion of legal proceedings in Guatemala, Mr. Pop was convicted of femicide. In response, the Ministry has instructed the Embassy to inquire into any further legal recourse that may be available to Mr. Pop through legal representation." A Guatemalan news site adds that he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering his female cousin in San Luis, Peten.
So, there it is - the update his beleaguered family has been seeking for years finally came - and the news is not good.
This morning, before the press release was issued, Pop's father and sister came from Bella Vista to our 7News studio in Belize City to demand the answers and accountability that had eluded them for two years:
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"I come here for help. I am seeking for help. I want the government to do its job better. Why did they allow Guatemalan people to kidnap my brother innocently?"
Sebastian Pop has been in a Guatemalan prison for two and a half years - after he was abducted by a Guatemalan mob from Dolores village in Belize in February of 2023 and delivered into the Guatemalan village on the other side of the border. His father visited him right after he was kidnapped - he speaks in Ketchi.
Francisco Pop, Father of Abductee
"He says when he gone look for him, he says he is very hurt up, bruise up broke one ribs out here.When he reached there they taped up his eye, he don't know where he reach."
His family has reported it to the Ministries of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs and police. That was two years ago but say they have gotten no answers. Francisco Pop went to the PG police to make a report:
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"He did went to the police. They told him that they will investigate into it and get back to him. And that is why I don't want to hear this word investigate. For what!? They noh investigate! Let them say that they won't want to do anything, stay right there, I don't care about you, simple as that!"
"Why they have bother promise my father that they will get back to him and then not one person come look to my pa again. From ever since my brother gone, nobody come!"
Jules Vasquez
"Has anybody from any ministry come to you or gone to the father or gone to the mother to say we are bringing him home or trying to bring home. Has anyone done that?"
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"Nobody give me a call. They told me they will give me a call.They said they will check up and I will get back to you to you. That's the answer and nobody call me. Nobody tell me what happened. Where is he? Is he alive? Is he ok? Nobody get to me."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you think they take you lightly because you are a Maya?"
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"Exactly. They take me lightly like they don't care about the Maya people. They noh like Maya people."
And the incident may have never come to light were it not for the recent abduction of Joseph Budna:
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"I know it's because of Mr Budna you bring this out Mr Jules? And I say why are they hiding stories behind us - why didn't they deal with it on time. I was waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting for what? For nothing. Waste of time. I feel like they take me like I don't care about you, stay right there. That's what it meant to me."
And the two and a half years of knowing nothing has taken a devastating toll on this family:
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"It destroy my whole family. It give mental health for my mom. My mom, like I noh know what happen to she. Too much stress. Too much worry. Don't know where to do. Everything destroy like, nothing, nothing."
"Everyday, night and day, I used to work, I noh focus on my work. I used to walk on the street. I want to bawl, cry every time.I even cry all the time. People watch me, I try to be strong. But deep inside, I am not strong. Every day I cry, I get sick of it, thinking about him. He's not an animal, My brother was tortured very bad."
Her father is the one who witnessed his son's condition first hand.
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"Whenever he sleeps every evening, he remembers him, he can't sleep, he can't eat and he's sleepless in the night. Every night, every night he dreams him, morning. As he goh sleep, first thing he see is him in his sleep. Because he misses this son, that is his baby."
And this sister remembers well the last time she saw her brother in Placencia and gave him a hug:
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"I don't know how to explain my pain Mr Jules. I didn't know that was my last hug from my brother. One week before he went. I tell my brother take care. I didn't know I was telling him goodbye one time. Because I noh di see my brother like he dead one time. (Crying) It's very sad, just imagine how my mother feels right now. (Shakes head)."
And now she is demanding that government do its duty of looking after a citizen stolen away from his country:
Candelaria Pop, Brother Abducted
"A government; job is to talk to both sides. Talk to the Guatemalan side. And the Guatemalan supposed to contact the Belizean side."
"All that I want is if the government to bring back my brother and make them check up on my brother. If he is doing good or not, I need to know. That's why I waste my time to come way ya. I live far. Long traveling. Just because of of my brother. I miss my brother. He is my baby brother."
"All weh I'm begging Mr Jules, let the government do their work. Let them put it in their eyes. And let them listen to our concern."
And while the family was clearly not kept in the loop, the release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has been, quote, "monitoring the case...following communication from his legal representative in Guatemala regarding the circumstances of his removal from the village of Dolores in southern Belize...Since then, the Embassy of Belize in Guatemala has maintained contact with Mr. Pop's lawyer and has facilitated the provision of relevant documentation to support his legal process." End quote. Again, the family - and we spoke to the father and persons familiar with his mother - was never apprised of this.
And in what may be the only consolation for the family, the statement adds, quote, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is extremely concerned about the circumstances of Mr. Pop's removal from Belize and will continue addressing the issue through established diplomatic channels… and vigorously pursue his repatriation to Belize."
Via text Foreign Minister Fonseca gave us his personal assurance that he would follow up on the matter. He also acknowledged, quote, "If this were not a poor man from a rural community I am sure it would not have fallen through the cracks of the Government bureaucracy." End. quote.
