Monday, September 30, 2024
Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Belize got an opportunity over the past week to say a few words to the world at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. And, while our esteemed statesmen used their best judgement and diplomatic experience to determine what best to say, and what not to tell the gathered nations about the Belize-Guatemala situation, with the ICJ case looming over our collective heads, it is felt by some citizens that both our leader representatives failed to say enough on our behalf.
Perhaps they felt it was not appropriate to sound any gripes, after the Guatemalan president had apparently taken such a high road, and spoken well about our relationship and his nation’s agreement to enlist the assistance of the ICJ in settling our territorial dispute. Our leaders made little direct mention of the current crisis in Gaza, but chose to reiterate the Guatemalan leader’s positive outlook on the cordial trade and friendly relations that exist between our two countries, and also our commitment to abide by the court’s determination on the case before it regarding Guatemala’s claim to our territory. But our leaders could have said more; critically, their message lacked an essential point that is vitally substantive to the whole deliberation of the ICJ, which is currently faced with international campaigns for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and a number of other territorial disputes between nations.
When police officers stop a vehicle at a checkpoint, they are usually looking for clues in the behavior of the driver or passengers in the vehicle, which might suggest there is something they are uncomfortable about, like perhaps something – drugs, guns, stolen goods – they are trying to hide. A calm and cool demeanor, on the other hand, transmits a feeling of confidence and security, based on the knowledge that one has nothing to fear. Perhaps that was the intent of our leaders at the UN General Assembly: not wanting to appear fearful of anything or anyone, being super-confident that our case is “iron clad”, like US president Biden’s declared support for Israel. The only problem is, there is no one in the international community to comfort little Belize with that type of assurance. All we have is the righteousness of our cause and our belief in justice; but so do the terrorized and traumatized people of Gaza, and now those of Lebanon. Ironically, despite the ICJ’s declared opinion that there was a plausible case of genocide being committed by the Israeli army, the support for Israel remains strong from the most powerful nation in the UN, the USA, as well as from our western neighbor whose “unfounded claim” has led us to the International Court of Justice.
What was absolutely amazing, was that, even with the vast majority of nations calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and for Israel to respect the ICJ’s warning about genocide and crimes being committed against humanity in Gaza, and the ICC even lodging calls for the arrest of the Israeli prime minister and its army general, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu was still welcomed at the UN and given applause during his speech by the few members who remained to hear his address, which demonstrated rank disrespect for the ICJ’s and the ICC’s recommendations.
More than any other UN General Assembly, this one exposed the toothlessness of this global organization’s mandate to ensure peace among nations, since its most powerful member, the USA, although long considered a bastion of peace and democracy in the world, has been openly chastised and rebuked as a hypocrite and engaging in double standards, by a number of nations for flagrantly flaunting its veto power in the UN Security Council, and in effect giving a green light to Israel to do whatever it wants with the Palestinians, the ICJ and the ICC be damned. But we did not expect our leaders to comment on such matters.
When Belizeans were coaxed and convinced to vote in favor of taking our problem with Guatemala to the ICJ, the chief selling point in this decision was that, with an ICJ vote in our favor, which was presumably guaranteed, all our problems with Guatemala would be over. But what we have seen over the past months with Israel’s disdain for the ICJ and ICC rulings, with the support of the US, is cause for much concern.
It is widely suspected that it was the power of the US lobby, threats or enticements, that garnered a small group of nations to actually applaud accused war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN this past week. The most powerful nation on earth wields its influence where it coincides with its interests. Belize is on record for our support of Palestine’s right to nationhood. Guatemala and the US are among the few in the corner of Israel.
With the pressure on judges of the ICJ to see their court maintain its stature and respect among all nations of the world, it will be under the spotlight to provide rulings in a number of international territorial disputes, and will be hoping to increase the peace, perhaps with some compromise, through its wise rulings.
Little Belize, with less than half a million citizens, will be on the table against the military giant, a far more technologically advanced Guatemala, who will likely be supported by top US lawyers. And we will be there by mutual agreement, seeking the court’s wisdom in settling this dispute. Will the court be under pressure to seek satisfaction for both sides who signed a “compromis” to bring them the matter?
It is the feeling of some citizens that our leaders wasted an opportunity to send an important message far and wide, and to the ears of the ICJ.
The UN General Assembly should have been told that Belize is at the ICJ under duress; we had no business or desire to be there. The UN General Assembly already reviewed and adjudicated our case for self-determination and territorial integrity way back in 1980; and the new nation of Belize was admitted as a member of the United Nations, with all our territory intact, in September of 1981. And that was that! We should not be revisiting this matter of our right to self-determination and territorial integrity, unless the UN has reneged on its charter.
The new Guatemalan president has spoken like a true statesman, and his overtures of good relations to our prime minister and government are sincerely appreciated.
However, the UNGA needed to know, that powerful elements within the Guatemalan oligarchy and its military have repeatedly violated Belize’s territory, both on land and sea, and continue to rape our forests and intimidate our citizens in Belizean waters near our southernmost boundary in the Sarstoon River. The case of murdered tour guide, 20-year-old Danny Conorquie on September 25, 2014, near the western border by Guatemalan intruders has still not been solved. And to avoid an incident in the future, we were assured that with an ICJ ruling, this matter of Guatemala’s unfounded claim would be forever laid to rest. But now we are not so sure.
The UNGA needed to know that Belizeans did not go to the ICJ to offer any compromise on our territory; “not one square centimeter.” We were driven there under duress and intimidation from the Guatemalan oligarchy and military. And the Guatemalan president’s assurances notwithstanding, the UN needs to be reminded that this is a nation that has once experienced a coup when the elected leader ran afoul of the military/oligarchy’s interests. To ensure the maintenance of peace in our region, we would like an assurance from the UNGA, that when (if) the ICJ rules in our favor, and if the US turns a blind eye, that the UN will make it a priority to see that the ruling is respected by the GAF and thus prevent any possible conflagration in this region.