Rights Cannot Be Trampled by Force

The recent release of surveillance footage showing the abduction of freelance journalist Joseph Budna in Orange Walk raises serious and troubling questions for our society. The video, aired by 7News, shows Budna being chased, beaten by multiple men, and dragged into a waiting vehicle. Regardless of who the victim is, scenes like these should disturb every Belizean who believes in the rule of law.

It is no secret that Mr. Budna’s reputation has often been the subject of public criticism. But the essence of a rights-based society is that justice is not selective. It does not excuse itself based on the past actions or unpopularity of the individual. Rights are inherent and non-negotiable, even for those with whom we may disagree or whose conduct we may disapprove of.

What compounds the concern is the reported acquiescence of at least one police officer on the scene. Taxpayers, including Budna himself, contribute through GST, income tax, or even at the pump when buying gasoline. Those funds pay the salaries of the very officers sworn to uphold the law and protect the rights of all citizens. For such any officer to appear indifferent in the face of a public beating and abduction is unacceptable.

This newspaper does not assert that the high command of the Belize Police Department orchestrated or sanctioned the incident. That determination requires an independent, credible investigation. What we will say firmly, however, is that the State has a duty to respond decisively to such a gross violation of rights. Silence or inertia would only deepen the erosion of public confidence in the institutions that exist to protect the citizenry.

The Budna case is not just about one man. It is about the principle that no citizen should be beaten and carried away in full view of the public, much less within steps of a police station. It is about reaffirming that Belize is governed by laws, not by force.

The rule of law is tested not when it protects the powerful or the popular, but when it safeguards those who are most vulnerable and most scorned. In this moment, Belize faces such a test. The response of the State will determine whether rights are truly secure for all—or merely conditional for some.