Territorial Volunteers reject warnings and will proceed to the Sarstoon on Thursday

The Belize Territorial Volunteers have rejected the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ warning and confirmed that their annual expedition to the Sarstoon River will proceed on Thursday, September 10.  In a statement issued today, the BTV described the Government’s position as an attempt to discourage Belizeans from exercising their right to travel within the country’s territory.  The organization says it has conducted peaceful expeditions to the Sarstoon for more than fifteen years as a demonstration of Belizean sovereignty and a reminder of the boundary established under the 1859 Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty.  According to the BTV, none of its participants has been injured during those trips, and its expeditions have remained within Belizean territory without entering Guatemalan waters.  BTV Leader Wil Maheia described the timing of the Government’s warning during the September Celebrations as troubling. He called on the Government to disclose whether there is a specific security concern or any change in the diplomatic situation surrounding the Sarstoon.  Maheia maintains that the organization’s activities are peaceful and intended to promote national pride, not confrontation.  The BTV says this year’s expedition will include representatives from five countries. It has formally notified the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, as well as the Organization of American States, of its plans.  The organization is also calling on the Government to provide security for Belizeans travelling within the country’s borders.