Since Thursday the furor over the Patrick Faber arrest has died down. But tonight sans furor we look back once more at a telling encounter in the recent episodes of unrest and disquiet. We do so with the benefit of footage from an amateur videographer who was at the scene before we were and who also has a wide view of the moment when police with no authority or reason whatsoever actually tried to take away our video camera. It's a disturbing precedent and one that were compelled to bring to the forefront. Here's a look at that encounter and other from that troubled Thursday afternoon in Belmopan.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
While Prime Minister Said Musa calmly walked into the UB auditorium and the question and answer session with students began, 500 feet way, on the perimeter of the university's compound, this was the scene as Superintendent Rudolph Orio tried to impose his directive to bar all non students from entering the forum.
Supt. Rudolph Orio,
[To Protestors] "Please step behind the barriers for us."
And he maintained that stance taking those gathered behind the barrier but allowing the Government Press Office crew entrance and a provocative Information Officer Michael Rudon. When we arrived on the scene it was to meet this, Member of the National Assembly and Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber surrounded by 3 SPU officers trying to forcefully move him behind the barrier.
Faber managed to walk squarely into university grounds until two officers once again halted his progress. And Superintendent Orio continued to impose the directive
meanwhile Faber again got entangled with the police. And as he had his worries one man who was at the barricade attracted the attention of officers and was promptly thrown into the police truck and carted away. As for Faber his worries were far from over as he would still not be allowed in, this time being restrained by Senior Superintendent Edwardo Wade.
Patrick Faber, Collet Area Representative
"The man ova deh so slap me, Member of the National Assembly. This is a public institution. See di flyer yah so people, public forum, inviting the people of this nation to come out to a public forum."
Jules Vasquez,
So what happened when you got here?
Patrick Faber,
"They have stopped the people of this country from coming in just to protect Prime Minister Musa and not only that Jules, Mr. Wade mi deh right yah when I come, I neva come with that crowd a people. But yet he has refused. Mr. Wade get pon ih radio and ih call some senior policeman, Orio, and they said I am not supposed to enter here. I am a member of the National Assembly and this is the country's only national university to a public forum and then the man seh he noh know 'bout this. Then dah man ova deh so, I wah yo zoom in pan he, ih literally lift up ih hand and bax me and tell me I upstart. Imagine that."
Jules Vasquez,
This is Mr. Orio.
Patrick Faber,
"Dah he dah Mr. Orio?"
Jules Vasquez,
Yes.
Patrick Faber,
"Well dah he said ah noh fi go in and he dah he bax me."
Jules Vasquez,
Why are you not being permitted in?
Patrick Faber,
"I do need to ask the police officers that and noh only that they physically restrained me from going in and this is a public forum. So ih say if this document legitimate, well it has the seal of the UB Student Government, official document advertising the public forums for yesterday and today. I don't know what they are trying to play. I am getting here one way or the other so they'll have to arrest me. They wah tell me 'bout how I di gather inna wah illegal gathering yah. It wouldn't have been an illegal gathering if they had allowed me inside. I have come to hear what the Prime Minister has to hear and so many Belizeans want to know what is the Prime Minister saying and what are his explanations for all that's happening right now. So when he do decide to give a public audience then this is the kind of thing, look how many hundreds of people are out here."
Soon enough the Riot Squad was wheeled in even so Faber's troubles were not over; he remained in Wade's restraint. Then came the entrance of the riot squat running from a distance a camera picked up Patrick's dash for short-lived freedom. Behind the building it was a dramatic scene as a desperate Faber clung on to anything he could letting the officers know he meant to stay.
This was what it would look like from a
distance as two officers would emerge carrying the Honourable member of the House even falling with him. Soon enough our camera was more that the police could handle and one overzealous policeman tried to wrest it away from me, while I held on and tried to get another angle only to be met by this, a riot shield. I was undeterred however and had to resort to lifting the camera above the riot shield for you to see this.
After Faber was taken away the riot squad began their now famously intimidating advance march. Within minutes, they would establish their presence and as it ended, no one who was not a student was allowed into the UB forum - a victory, but one that came at a dear cost on this day at the national university.
Since then Patrick Faber has been charged for two counts of aggravated assault. He says he intends to sue police for assaulting him.
