Belizeans assert their rights over the Sarstoon on 1859 Treaty anniversary

(MENAFN- Caribbean News Now) By Wellington C Ramos
Caribbean News Now contributor

BELMOPAN, Belize – On Tuesday, April 30, the leader of the Belize People's Front (BPF) Nancy Marin, party candidates and members, travelled to the Sarstoon River to assert their rights over Belize's territory, which is currently being occupied by members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF). It was on that day in 1859 that the government of Guatemala signed a treaty with Great Britain, ceding this portion of Belize that was under their captaincy general jurisdiction of the Spanish governor from Peten when they were a colony of Spain.

From the Sibun River to the Sarstoon River, this area of land includes parts of the Belize and the Orange Walk Districts and the whole of the Districts of Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts. The other portion of Belize's territory that is north of the Sibun River, which is parts of Orange Walk and the whole of Corozal District, was under the jurisdiction of the Spanish governor from the province of Quintana Roo in Mexico as part of the captaincy general of New Spain.

This was the largest ever established by Spain in the Americas. Mexico signed a treaty with Great Britain ceding that portion of land with our border at the Rio Hondo River. Mexico has never indicated that they are interested in claiming Belize and have excellent relations with Belize compared to Guatemala which has always been strain and hostile.

After that treaty was signed, Great Britain and Guatemala agreed to have the borders and boundaries certified in 1933 which now separates Belize from Guatemala. This area of land includes parts of Belize and the Orange Walk Districts and the whole of the districts of Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts.

Later on, Guatemala claimed that the British had committed to building a road from Guatemala City to Punta Gorda and they did not, so the treaty should be voided. Guatemala has the right to bring a case against Great Britain to seek redress but they have never brought a case against Great Britain to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to void the treaty. Because of this neglect on the British part, Guatemala is now claiming that portion of territory which Guatemalans are displaying on their maps.

Sometimes the Guatemalans would say that not only that portion of the territory belongs to them but the whole of Belize. However, there are no historical records or evidence to justify Guatemala's claim because Mexico existed before Guatemala in 1519 by Hernando Cortez and he sent the Spanish Conquistador Alvarado to go through Belize to conquer the territory we know today as Guatemala in 1524.

The country we know as Belize today started with the settlement that the British established in Belize by Sir Peter Wallace in 1638. Mexico and Guatemala have never occupied Belize. People from these two countries came across the borders when there were civil wars in their countries to seek refuge in Belize. The Guatemalans have become more aggressive in the Sarstoon area over the years.

Belizeans are becoming curious as to why the government of Guatemala has adopted this aggressive attitude in that area. Some Belizeans believe that there is a possibility that the government of Belize may have signed a document with the government of Guatemala ceding the Sarstoon to them unknown to Belizean citizens. Both the People's United Party (PUP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) governments have been saying no.

Yet, the government of Belize has failed to file a complaint against the Guatemalan government at the United Nations Security Council, to force Guatemala to remove their troops from off Belize's territory and to end their hostile patrols against Belizeans when they want to use their land.

Marin and her party have committed themselves to bring this matter before the UN Security Council as soon as they become the next government of Belize. This is something both the PUP and UDP governments have failed to do when they were in power.

BPF will also be asking the UN Security Council, to provide Belize with a multinational force to remain in that area until Belize and Guatemala sign a peace treaty with each other, for Guatemala to stop occupying and using Belize's territory for their purposes. The party is currently planning a defense plan for Belize that will protect Belizean citizens and their territory from Guatemalan continuous aggression and encroachments.

This collective national Belize defence plan shall include all Belizean citizens living at home and abroad to protect their country. The British government removed its troops from Belize shortly after they forced it into becoming independent without any defence guarantee.

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