B.D.F. Chief of Staff says Guatemalans Weren’t Hostile
In our investigation, we revealed that on September seventh, B.D.F. troops apprehended Guatemalan loggers operating illegally in the Columbia River Forest Reserve. However, their position was quickly compromised when over ten armed Guatemalans surrounded them. Communication with Fairweather Camp was lost, gunshots were fired, and outnumbered soldiers had no choice but to release their detainees to avoid escalation. An investigation into that matter was launched after this station reported the alarming details. The investigation was completed last week, and we asked Major Usher for an update.
Major Roberta Usher, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.
“So the investigation has confirmed that they indeed were surrounded. However, hostility did not escalate as we had previously discussed. They were they came over to see the five detainees as to why they were detained, and they did encircle the CP at the time the commander saw it feasible and appropriate to release the detainees. Due to his own, I guess measurements that he did not want the situation to escalate, whether it would have or not, we won’t know.
Hipolito Novelo
“Are you able to say if the Guatemalans who had circled the CP were indeed armed? The report says at least two shots were heard.”
Major Roberta Usher
“So our investigations do not line up with that in the fact, yes, what you explained is that you heard that shots were being fired, et cetera. What we came up the conclusion of the investigation that was not case.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Is this something normally that happens that if there is a situation that might escalate to possibly a shootout or a showdown that the patrol commander or the CP commander would then take it upon himself to decide to release illegal Guatemalans who had continuously deforested Belizean land?
Major Roberta Usher
“No. So I will not disclose our procedures for our operation for operational security. However, we have protocols in the event of escalation on what measures are to be taken. And the commander on the ground took the measure. He saw fit for this situation. Yes.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Would you classify this as appropriate measures?
Major Roberta Usher
“Again. This is appropriate to him on the ground. In, his time that he saw this at the most suitable to release them in the event of escalation. Yes.”
Hipolito Novelo
“I’m trying to establish whether, whether or not the BDF high command agrees that these illegal Guatemalans on Belizean land were to be released.”
Major Roberta Usher
“No, they, they were not to be released. The procedures are that the police will bring them in to detain them? There were no police at Machakilha at the time, and the powers that be, the commander on the ground saw it fit to release them.”
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