Guatemala Officially Rejects O.A.S.-backed Report on Julio Alvarado Death

Jimmy Morales

Guatemala today officially, but not surprisingly, rejected the report of two independent experts in respect of the shooting death of fourteen year old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano in the Chiquibul last April. Even though Guatemala was first to call for an independent investigation and Belize agreed to it, President Jimmy Morales told the media in Guatemala that he is asking the O.A.S. for a new investigation by other experts. Guatemala had accused the B.D.F. of “murdering” the minor, but the report exonerates the B.D.F., saying that the bullets came from elsewhere. The young man was along with his father and brother, who were also injured. The minor had already been spotted in the area back in February of this year and was sent back to Guatemala. In April, the trio was within Belizean territorial conducting illegal activities when the fatal shooting occurred. Here is what President Morales and his Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales told the press.

Carlos Raul Morales

Jimmy Morales, President of Guatemala

“Guatemala categorically rejects the report given by the O.A.S. and requests, from the onset, that the report be conclusive and that it should have criminal implications for those responsible.”

Carlos Raul Morales, Guatemalan Foreign Minister

“Guatemala will in no way apologize for killing a national. I don’t know if that is clear or not. Ten Guatemalans have died. I don’t know if that is clear. I have been very explicit that Guatemala will not apologize. On the contrary, I became upset and deemed as cynical what the Prime Minister had to say.”