Belize Guatamala territory dispute :: essays research papers

British lumberjacks set up settlements in the eventual Belize. The Spanish granted them the territorial dominion. When war broke out in Europe in that location was an attack which was repulsed. Over the next 20 years the British had self-aggrandising into the assigned area and some unsettled areas of South America establishing the straight off existing Belize. The Spanish neer had both rule everyplace the territory. Up to 1859 the British continued to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over the settlement, win establishing administrative control and implementing a comprehensive legal and legislative system.In 1859 a treaty offici bothy established the boundaries of Belize. In 1940 Guatemala declared the pact to be void, botheging failure to implement article 7 (That the British throw a road which they never did) A new Guatemalan organisation in 1945 declared Belize to be Guatemalan territoryBelizean culture and nationality positive throughout the 19th century (and the Brit ish became the minority). Self-government was achieved in 1964, scarcely full independence was delayed until 1981 only because of the Guatemalan claim to the territory.Guatemala changed its list in 1999. it rested its case on the 18th century Treaties surrounded by Britain and Spain covering the area between the Hondo and the Sibun Rivers. Guatemala claimed that the area between the Sibun River and the Sarstoon River was illegally occupied by Britain, and argued that the area south of Sibun up to the Sarstoon River must be "returned" to Guatemala together with all the cayes which were not included in those Treaties. The area thus claimed by Guatemala amounts to over 12,000 square kilometres, which is more than half of Belizes territory. The British occupied this territory when it was depopulated and unsettled. Belize rests its case on two firm pillars the right of a muckle to self- determination and the fact that Guatemalas claim is legally untenable.Negotiations began between Britain and Guatemala and Belize. In 1975 the UN oecumenic Assembly passed a resolution affirming Belizes right to secure independence with all its territory and declared that any proposals emerging from negotiations between Britain and Guatemala must rate this rightIn 1980, the UN resolution declared that Belize should become independent by the following year. The entire global community supported this decisionthe territory was perfected through the process of acquisitive prescription, which is a recognised convey in International Law for acquiring title to territoryGuatemala never occupied, nor did it ever exercise any control or jurisdiction over, any part of the territory of Belize.