SATIIM Observes Guatemalan Military Activity at the Mouth of the Sarstoon River

May 10, 2016

While on a patrol on May 5th, 2016, SATIIM observed Guatemalan military activity at the mouth of the Sarstoon River. Two patrol boats were seen in both the northern and southern channels of the river. A video and pictures of this activity can be found below.

Video

Pictures:

Guatemalan Patrol Boat at Southern Channel

Guatemalan Patrol Boat on Northern Channel

April 6, 2016

SATIIM has noted an increase in illegal activity inside the Sarstoon Temash National Park.  There is little doubt that unless areas are monitored, illegal activity takes place. Such is the case when a recent SATIIM patrol documented fishing camps along the Temash and Sarstoon as well as logging. The suspected offenders are believed to be non-Belizeans. In addition, hundreds of acres of sphagnum moss was burnt most likely as the result of a camp fire. The Sarstoon Temash National Park (STNP) has the largest concentration of Sphagnum moss in Central America. Pictures of these activities can be seen below:

Camp Inside the STNP

Camp inside the STNP

Seismic lines used very frequently.

Fire burning inside the STNP

Fire damage to rare sphagnum moss.

Signs of illegal logging

Signs of illegal logging

Illegal camps inside the STNP

Trash left behind in the STNP

Punta Gorda Town, Toledo — April 6, 2016) As Guatemalan military confronts SATIIM’s patrol in the Sarstoon River this week SATIIM asks if there is a new international directive for travelling in the Sarstoon River.

The Guatemalan military informed SATIIM on Tuesday, April 5^th 2016 that all visits to the Sarstoon must be reported to them. This is a new chapter in park monitoring by SATIIM. Over its many years of monitoring along the Sarstoon, SATIIM has never had to inform Guatemala of its patrols. The Belize Defence Force Outpost station was informed of the SATIIM patrol and had granted permission to proceed up the Sarstoon. This latest encounter is an indication that the international quarrel between Belize and Guatemala has implications for a Belizean NGO tasked with monitoring the Sarstoon Temash National Park (STNP). The southern border of the park is the Sarstoon River and the easiest way of patrolling it is via the Sarstoon River.

“There is little doubt that unless areas are monitored, illegal activity takes place, destroying this fragile, eco-system,” said Froyla Tzalam, SATIIM Executive Director.

Such was the case in the STNP as the SATIIM patrol documented fishing and logging camps along the Temash and Sarstoon Rivers. The suspected offenders are believed to be non-Belizeans. In addition, hundreds of acres of sphagnum moss was burnt most likely as the result of a camp fire. The Sarstoon Temash National Park (STNP) has the largest concentration of Sphagnum moss in Central America. The patrol also reported that numerous skiffs were heard travelling in the area for unknown purposes but it is likely that they are not Belizeans fishing at night.

While the Belize government unilaterally ended SATIIM’s co-management agreement in the Sarstoon Temash National Park, community patrols have continued to report increased activity as a result of the large paths blasted through the park for oil exploration. These paths established easy access from the Sartsoon River straight through previously virgin areas. Alarmed with the increasing environmental damage, SATIIM continues to work with Mayan communities to monitor and document the damage in an otherwise neglected ‘protected area.(

SATIIM is publicly asking that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarify the situation for Belizeans using the Sarstoon River.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

See the encounter here: https://youtu.be/wluutz0ZYIU

Guatemalan patrol boat lying in wait at the mouth of Black Creek.

Guatemalan patrol boat trailing the community patrol.

Guatemalan patrol boat approaches the community patrol.

Applicants are invited to apply for the Arthur Lewis Awards for Indigenous People at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados. Interested persons should follow this link UWI Scholar Criteria for more information. You can find more information on the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill here.

Please note that time is limited, so you should apply today!