Villager Alleges Police Victimization

Friday, March 12, 2010, 4:09

This news item was posted in Headline category and has 6 Comments so far.

Juan Coy Ordered it… Says Teul

“I should have said this before but right now I feel ashamed that I campaigned for Mr. Coy or even associated with him when he was campaigning.” – Bartolo Teul.

Belize City, Thursday, March 11, 2010

At approximately 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 7^th, 2010, at a public community meeting held in Big Falls, Toledo, police officers arrested renowned and respected social and environmental activist Bartolo Teul, who is also a villager, for exercising his constitutional human rights, that of speaking out.

A press release sent out three days ago claims that Teul was arrested simply because he dared to comment on some aspects of Toledo East Area Representative Juan Coy’s speech given during the above-mentioned meeting.

The release stated: “When Mr. Teul presented opposing perspectives and challenged some points brought out by Hon. Coy, he responded by ordering the police to take out and arrest Mr. Teul. The Punta Gorda police officers present (six in total), who were heavily armed with SLR, M16, 9mm guns and long batons, took Mr. Teul out of the meeting in handcuffs as if he just committed a most criminal act. Villagers were amazed, shocked and intimidated by this very scary incident in our village. At no point was Mr. Teul being disrespectful, threatening or abusive to the Area Representative. Villagers who witnessed this outrageous incident are gravely concerned and are asking what next? Are we now under a form of dictatorship where citizens are not allowed to think independently? Is this the change we voted for in February 2008? Where is our democracy, our democratic and constitutional rights heading? This coarse and crude attack on our freedom of speech is absolutely unacceptable.”

“Coy apparently feels insecure in the position he holds and clearly doubts his ability to lead and is now using intimidation tactics by having armed police officers at village meetings. As far as it can be recalled there has never been the need to have police officers armed with assault rifles and dressed in bullet proof vests as if they are expecting a riot, at our village meetings. In fact, for those who do not understand the dynamics of Mayan villages, there is the Alcalde system, where the Alcaldes are responsible for maintaining peace and order among community members. A heinous crime was committed in Big Falls a few months ago where a prominent businessman was brutally murdered. The response from the police was pathetic and confused to say the least and the criminals are still at large. At that time, it was reported there were no officers available and the one available vehicle had no fuel but this last Sunday they were in abundance to intimidate law abiding citizens.”

“People of Big Falls are outraged by this occurrence and many walked out of the said meeting and have since come forth to express their displeasure and disappointment in the arrogant and poor leadership of the Area Representative.”

The release signed by 12 villagers calls on the Minister of National Security to investigate the matter and make an appropriate response.

Teul was an ardent campaigner for Coy and the UDP, and his wife, Pulcheria Teul is a UDP Senator. He told Channel Seven News in a broadcast interview that Coy and the police added insult to injury by having him charged with assault after ejecting him from the meeting.

“… I was stepping outside when the policeman came and he pushed me and on the verandah of the community center is like a concrete slab and there is a drop about 8 feet and I slipped on that and when I went backward I fell into the police and he said you assault me and I will arrest you,” Teul said on air.

Teul was taken to Magistrate’s Court in Punta Gorda on Monday, and charged for assaulting a police officer. He was offered bail in the amount of two thousand dollars and is to re-appear in court on May 11^th.

Bartolo Teul is considered a leader in the very vibrant conservation movement in the district and is the programme manager of the Yaxche Conservation Trust. He is also a member of the Maya Leaders Alliance negotiating team and advisory council.

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6 Responses to “Villager Alleges Police Victimization”

reggie said on Friday, March 12, 2010, 12:29

The Minister Coy need to be replace.it is more than one time he instruct the police to arrest people who is against him. and he is not doing anything for the village.I was suprise to know that san Pedro Columbia was where he live.I remember lost Sept. 21-09 the Cadet was having an event.He didn’t give anything to the event.But at 11.45 p.m. he decide that he will make a speech.and stop the event until he was finish.He was not well come at the event but because he is a minister he used his power.It is time for the Policemen to let the Minister know who carry out the law.If you know it is wrong for what any Minister tell you to do let him know up front.The people put them there to lead not to brake the law.Coy is like a tale wagging a dog.Time for him to move on.
Belizeslikrik said on Friday, March 12, 2010, 18:26

So, the big question is, when the hell did our ministers became Gods of Belize? When exactly did they have so much power? How long is this current Administration going to push until the pressure builds up enough that it explodes into an onslaught of complete chaos. It is going to happen; it is inevitable!
Leonardo Cal said on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 11:44

It is time for the so called minista to do the honorable thing “RESIGN” and let the GOB call for a bye election. He was told by his UDP executive at the beginingof his term it is difficult for a boy to do a man’s job. Mr. Coy should let the electorates voice their opinions and concern so he knows where he stands. He does not posses the quality of a leader. Mr. Barrow and the security minista should set up an inquiry to investigate the ill doings of the mentioned Police Officer who happens to be one “Mr. Mangar”. The said police officer seems to need some more training and should be fired at the end of the investigation. After all we live in a free democratic country and have our rights. The police are hot behind innocent citizens but were afraid to capture the criminals who murdered the Big Falls business man a couple months ago. They claim the only vehicle did not have enough fuel. What a shame and disgrace. Time for the GOB to get serious if not resign and call an election.
Levi said on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 17:46

Mr. Teul confesses to having voted and even campaigned for this bastard. Therefore, he made his bed so lay on it. But this I say to this tyrant and his Master Dean barrow: one thing is to call the Devil and another is see him coming and even more if he comes naked.
Richard Edwards said on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 22:35

Most of these so- called politicians are self-serving bastards, they don’t really care about the people, and they beleive they are high and mighty, like they are Gods, and that the people should take whatever they do to them, It will NOT work, the police force is to protect the citizens not to oppress them, and the politicians are elected to make sure the RIHGTS of every single peron in Beleize is protected, so when they fail to do their jobs is time to resign, and I could not think of a better time than now. The pepole of beleize deserve better and should demand better. The issue is not with the police, but instead with the Minister of National Security, and the person in charge of crime, if these police officers kenw that they would be held accountable by their government for their actions, they would NEVER have acted in the manner they did, but because they know that have the support of a government, who seems incapable of doing its job, thats way they conduct themselvesd in that manner, it is the same kind of dumb leadership that haunts my country Jamaica. Some ofthese politicans need to be packed in a barrel and tossed in the sea, they make too many persons lives miserable. Enough with some of them.

Richard Edwards New York City. Betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo.com
belizeslikrik said on Sunday, March 14, 2010, 20:34

I would like Belize Times to do this ad: Work up an ad and ask people to send in letters to their newspaper asking for the Minister of National Security to resign; once the letters start pouring in, Belize Times should full their entire freaking publication with the letters from people asking him to resign; trust me that will make a statement beyond belief. Do this Belize Times and you will see what happens, do a full page ad for this, let see how serious you guys are about getting him to resign and lets see if you guys are really hardcore as you seem to be.