The kaibiles are the elite commando force of the Guatemalan Army that specialize in quelling armed insurrections in that country. Most recently they were responsible for U.N. peacekeeping operations in the republic of the Congo in Africa. Now the special forces training that these Guatemalan soldiers undergo is being taken up by Belizean soldiers. Two months ago the Belize Defense Force sent one of its young officers to be trained in Poptun and yesterday he graduated a kaibil, becoming Belize's first ever. I attended the historic graduation ceremony and found out that on the ground at least, the old hardline of "Belice Es Nuestro" is now more like "Belice Es Nuestro..Amigo."
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
To most this is a jarring picture, a kaibil soldier, member of the Guatemalan elite armed forces holding the Belizean flag. While we'd hate to think that he is holding it as a memento of a captured enemy, in reality he stands at attention and in respect of it. Over the past 60 days, this man 2nd lieutenant Rogelio Ramirez has been undergoing training in Poptun, Guatemala at the Kaibil Training Grounds to become the first Belize Defense Force soldier to be a kaibil. It may sound like a contradiction but today with observation from the BDF's high command, Ramirez and soldiers from three other Central American Republics became kaibiles.
2nd Lt. Rogelio Martinez,
"Well the training was somewhat different as opposed to how I trained in the United Kingdom, UK, and it was completely different the way they treated you, the way they speak to you. The language barrier of course is somewhat different. The language I speak back home is different. I am bilingual, I speak Spanish and English, however the Spanish I speak here is very much different than the one we speak in Belize. The doctrine they taught us was completely different from the training in the UK so it was quite difficult in terms of training. The physical aspect of it was difficult as well. We had to run a lot, especially with weight and our kit full, combat fighting order, and marching order as well."
While Ramirez found it difficult to endure, there are some who may find it difficult to believe and understand but in an era of confidence building and the perpetual quest for the ever-elusive final resolution to the Guatemala/Belize differendum, the high command believes this kind of training is the only logical step to take.
Lt. Col. Reuel Black, BDF
"We found it appropriate this time, as part of our confidence building measures, to further the close cooperation with the Republic of Guatemala, between Belize and Guatemala, and also to take advantage of their training and learn some more of their culture and how they train because if you remember, the last time we had kaibil graduate from our school as well. So it's an exchange we are doing, taking advantage of cross training with each other, knowing how we work because we have similar jobs. But the essence of it is that it's a part of the confidence building measures and we are taking advantage of it."
Col. Miguel Angel Escibal, Commanding Officer Kaibil
"Its like in families. One son got a piece of land that the other does not agree with but we the Guatemalans and Belizeans in essence are brothers so there is no problem. We the Central American are brothers. If there are any differences they are only ones of the border because in heart we are the same. Adding to that the war between brothers will never happen. We ask God that never happens."
And while he hopes that never happens, there is still a need for training and Belize is now taking advantage of the Kaibil Training, Lieutenant Colonel Reuel Black says its all in the vain of improving the BDF's capacity to be better soldiers.
Lt. Col. Reuel Black,
"Its training and training in any military aspect is good for our soldiers. Kaibil, like Rangers and the Colombian Lanceros, are leadership courses so the officer that has been trained here, of course it will improve his leadership skills, especially in small operating units and under strenuous conditions. It is good leadership within the force."
Now with the Ramirez being the first kaibil in the BDF all eyes are now on him.
Rogelio Martinez,
"To be the first kaibil yes which means that probably…better send more kaibil, BDF officers to train here and they'll feel and realize that it is a good training and it helps a lot for an officer, a soldier, or whoever comes here. It will help a lot for the BDF on a whole. We can implement a special force for Belize as well or something like that. Before I came here I knew that the course was very difficult. Even from the beginning I knew the course was very difficult. It was strenuous, tiresome, you would go without sleeping at nights and I knew that before I came here. Many of the officers and soldiers know that the course is very difficult, its very challenging, and they knew that so when they see me, they can say 'he managed to complete the course, he is good enough and I should respect him.' I think that anyone that comes here would realize at the end of the 8 weeks, 2 months that we are here, they will realize that its something very difficult, it's a milestone that you essentially mark. They will see it more, hopefully, as a icon and somebody to look up to and say he managed to compete training in Guatemala and I should be able to do the same. I think if I'm managed to make it, then I think any other soldier or officer who comes here should be able to make it because we go through all the basic training."
Col. Miguel Angel Escibal,
"You have not wanted to come. We have always invited you now you all decided to so from now on whoever wants to come there are as many as 10 courses for every Belizean."
With the graduation of Lieutenant Rogelio Ramirez from the Kaibil Training Academy here in Poptun, Guatemala and an open invitation for other BDF soldiers to come and train here, it is expected that more officers will be taking advantage of this unique and once in a lifetime training opportunity in Guatemala. Reporting for 7NEWS, Alfonso Noble, Poptun Guatemala.
The Kaibiles take their name from a Mayan leader Kaibil Balam who eluded capture during the Spanish invasion of Guatemala in the era of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Ramirez's historic passing out coincided with the 31st anniversary of the Kaibiles.
