Belize's security personnel has been mightily vindicated after an OAS investigation found that they acted reasonably when they shot a Guatemalan Xatero on April 7.

The OAS confirmed what the Government of Belize has been saying throughout, that the two Guatemalan men were almost 10 miles within Belizean territory in the Las Cuevas Reserve illegally harvesting the Xate leaf and illegally carrying the firearm. But the OAS concludes, the BDF did not appear to have used excessive force in trying to apprehend the two men. Still the report cautions that one of the soldiers in the detail was not certain about proper BDF procedures for the use of weapons.

Tags OAS Belize Guatemala BDF