And Security Minister Sladivar today, also spoke about the recent tangle with the Guatemalan Armed Forces on the Sarstoon.
As we showed you, the Guatemalans attempted to block the Belize Territorial Volunteers and SATIIM from going down the Sarstoon. The BDF had to swoop in to escort the BTV vessel - even as the Guatemalans continued to trail them.
Saldivar says it caught them off-guard because after the May 10th referendum tensions on the river had abated somewhat:
Hon. John Saldivar
"It caught us a little bit, I would say, by surprise because things have been pretty relatively calm down there since the I.C.J. vote. But we will continue to resist any attempts by the Guatemalan army to take control or to deter us from what we need to do in the area. We have lodged a strong complaint and hope that that deters the Guatemalans from any further such action."
Reporter
"Has the protest note be sent to the O.A.S.?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"Well, it is certainly been sent to Guatemala and I am sure that the O.A.S. will get a copy of that communication."
Reporter
"Is it worrying that the GAF commander says that the Sarstoon belongs to Belize, but in his view successfully manage to deter Belizeans from continuing up the Sarstoon."
Hon. John Saldivar
"In this case a decision was made to turn back which may have been the better decision at the time to avoid any conflict but no, we are not giving in to these sorts of behaviour from the Guatemalan army. I continue to think that it is based on the individual who is up there, it's not a collective decision by the Guatemalan army itself. I continue to believe that until proven otherwise. So hopefully we can get the matter solved once our general speaks with their general."
Reporter
"The decision to always backed down doesn't that give the Guatemalans an idea that they are having control?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"No, I don't think we have always backed down. That has not always been the case. I can certainly tell you that once it is military to military and there are no civilians involved, we do not back down; we carry out our mandate. But the decision is on a case by case basis and when civilians are involved, we've had to think about the safety of those individuals. We don't necessarily want to get in a military conflict once we have civilians on board. So it is a case by case decision but I can say categorically that the army when it is own, our B.D.F. when we are our own, conducting our patrol, we have never allowed the Guatemalans to deter us."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is, quote, "lodging a strong protest to the Government of Guatemala."
Saldivar could not comment on whether the Government plans to ask the ICJ to institute provisional measures.
