Voices Speak Out From Closed Community Of Shipyard
For all of its history in Belize, the Mennonite Community of Shipyard in the Orange Walk District has remained closed to outsiders.
But what happens when members of the community are suddenly not welcomed? Well, according to a group of Mennonites who were excommunicated, those persons become silent victims of sustained marginalization and discrimination, which sometimes escalated to violence. They say that the cases go unreported because there is a degree of public shame associate with excommunication, and those victims would rather suffer in silence.
Well, that tactic didn't happen on last week Thursday when a family became the targets of the mischievous mob from Shipyard - their former brethren. According to the allegation, the mob assaulted them with machetes, which caused a member of the family to pull his licensed weapon to scare them off. The men allegedly chopped one from the family in the head, but instead of that assailant receiving criminal charges, the man who used his shotgun to scare the mob off was charged with aggravated assault.
That caused a group from the community to become outraged, and they did an unprecedented thing; they took their complaint to the media. Tonight, we'll show you a startling look into the culture at Shipyard, starting with the man who was chopped by a member of the mob. Here's how he explained it:
David Friezen - Excommunicated Community Member (translated)
"They started to throw stones and sticks and they are trying to chase them away when they started to pull machetes. They cut him on his forehead and they held a machete to his throat and they told him that they were going to kill him. He said he was really afraid because he thought they were going to kill him. Then his mom came to meet him to try to protect him and they ran after his mom with the machetes. After this his dad came out and saw what was happening, so he took his license gun and he shoots into the air for them to go away."
Pete Penner
"Their religion says that you are not supposed to take part in their life. Those are lost sheep and you are not supposed to sell with them, do any kind of business, not associate with them in any way shape or form. But now they are being set free, they are free to do whatever they want. They can go listen to music, they can drive vehicles - but if they do it still pisses them off and they will come and retaliate against them."
Community member
"My problem is that I was excommunicated just because my son started to study the bible. That is something that is against the community, so the priest would tell what you have to do. You could read the bible, but don't try to study it or try to share it with your neighbor."
Mike Rudon, reporter Ch 5
"Because they did that your whole family was excommunicated?"
Community member
(Nodding)
Mike Rudon, reporter Ch 5
"What does it mean to be excommunicated? Do they come and tell you? How does it work?"
Community member
"I am not ready to do this."
Pete Penner
"What really happens is once you get labeled as a black sheep, you are excommunicated; you can't buy or sell in the community. You will be shunned until you come and repent and ask the elders for forgiveness. Once you are excommunicated you are free to do whatever you want and from my understanding they had music and they like to party and these people that are selling the religion they would come to their houses and steal their music equipment and that's where the violence begins."
Mike Rudon, reporter Ch 5
"Is this something that has happened before in the community?"
Pete Penner
"What has happened as far back as I can remember. This is everything they have; their house, their property - where else are they going to go. You've been brought up since a child…you look at this baby and they're taught every day that outsiders are all going to hell…those are worldly people. We are the only righteous people. And if you leave, you're basically being condemned…you're going to hell for eternity."
Henry Heathercope - Pastor, Evangelical Church of Excommunicated Members
"In terms of the division within the community we do see a lot of fighting certain times of the year particularly we would see it on extended holidays. The Mennonite community here has extended holidays at Easter time, on Pentecost, on Christmas time and generally by the time the holidays wind down then there is outbreak of violence and often times it is instigated by the fathers in the community and when things get out of hand then there are generally a few people that are picked on as the bad guys and the people that are liked are supported and everything gets kind of covered up."
Pete Penner
"We have a constitutional right for our beliefs, but we don't have a constitutional right to mistreat anybody."
Franz Petkau was charged aggravated assault, Discharging a Firearm in Public, and possession of a firearm whilst under the influence on Thursday for pulling his weapon Heinrich Petkau.
Channel 7
What Does It Mean To Be Excommunicated In The Community Of Shipyard?
Yesterday we presented the story of members of the Shipyard community who have been expelled from the corner church for breaking stringent rules set in place by the community's leaders. The leaders, we understand, follow the Old Colony beliefs, a more conservative group that suppressed individualism in dress, lifestyle and land use to maintain harmony in the community. The understanding is that followers of the faith are defensive, fearful of change and highly suspicious of outsiders. While we have only heard the stories of a few people who say they have been facing religious oppression for years, it certainly has shed light to a new side of the community that for the most part has been viewed as peaceful, respectful, and by all means hardworking by most Belizeans. Today, we take a look at another side of the situation - the challenges faced by those who are excommunicated yet live within the same community.
Dalila Ical - Reporting
The divide within the Shipyard community has led to many confrontations which have been unheard about by the rest of the country. The act in itself, even sans the violence, can leave a mark on those who are left on the fringes of a place they call home. The situation can prove difficult but it is one that most have to bear with according to those who have seen it happen repeatedly.
Pete Penner - Concerned Citizen
"What really happens once you are excommunicated their religion says you are not supposed to take any part of their lives those are lost sheep and you are not supposed to sell with them, do any kind of business and do not associate with them in anyway shape or form but see now they are basically been set free and they are free to do whatever they want; they can go and listen to music, drive any vehicle whatever they do but if that still make then mad and they would come and retaliate against them."
Dalila Ical - Reporter
"What would compel or what would make somebody who has been excommunicated or a family remain in a community where they are really rejected?"
Pete Penner - Concerned Citizen
"Well, this is everything they have, their property, their house this is everything they have where else they want to go."
Dalila Ical - Reporter
"You mentioned too that there is a certain extent of the religion being for so many years and you mentioned the people being brain washed that they feel that they can't go anywhere else?"
Pete Penner - Concerned Citizen
"One hundred per cent, you bring brought up since a child, you look at this baby and he is being taught every day that outsiders are all going to hell those are worldly people we are the only righteous people and if you leave you are basically being condemned and you are going to hell for eternity and those roots are deeper than anybody can imagine that comes from the outside."
Henry Redekopp - Shipyard Resident, Pastor
"How you are going to take care of your family if your livelihood is lost and you gain a back by submitting to their control even if it is under fear you rather live in that fear than lose your ability to care for your family."
Within the community, women have no voice. Decisions are made by a small fraction of the people and these are known as the elders. These decisions are sometimes so harsh and even the act of excommunication causes emotional and psychological scars.
Dalila Ical - Reporter
"Generally what has been for them live here having been excommunicated, being shunt?'
Henry Redekopp - Resident, Pastor
"I wish you could talk to them individually because for many of them it has been difficult now some of them they have means of income or actually all of them have means of income but for some of them for several years they haven't seen their families, they couldn't see their parents, they couldn't see their brother and sisters."
Dalila Ical - Reporter
"So would say that this sort of situation has brought some sort of psychological or emotional stress?"
Henry Redekopp - Resident, Pastor
"I think it has brought psychological stress, it has brought emotional stress, I has brought I think a lot of emotional scars, when you are called to love your neighbor, when you are called to be a minister of reconciliation, when you are called to live with peace with all men as it is with you and everything that you do is faced with a cold shoulder and often with words saying that you are not welcome over here certainly it causes scars and certainly it causes stress and a lot of pain."
Given the circumstances, the oppressed, onlookers and those who chose to leave and have no part of the religion say that if nothing is done, the situation will only worsen.
Henry Redekopp - Resident, Pastor
"Obviously it has been escalated, evil always escalates when stuff is unchecked always and what is the solution to this I don't know but I think that justice needs to prevail but there is a little respect for justice in this community, there will be a high degree of trying to bribe not trying but actually bribing officials wherever they can to avoid problems and that is part of the issue when we start having that kind of cloud where you can bribe the officials, you can cover your side of the violence and always makes the other person look bad there is always been escalating."
By no means do we suggest that the situation of those who openly spoke to us is a full insight of what is happening in the community. These are their stories and these show some of the trials and difficulties faced by those who choose to remain silent. There are even suggestions that the problems reach greater levels and crimes committed include anywhere from violations of basic human rights to sexual crimes. During our trip to Shipyard, we attempted to speak with the Chairman Cornelius Krahn but were told he was not in the community at the time.
Mennonite Resident Charged For Several Offences In Community Of Shipyard
In last night's newscast we presented the story on the fight that broke out at Shipyard on Tuesday April 22nd and which resulted in the arrest of Franz Petkau, a resident of the community. Petkau has been slapped with five charges. Today CTV-3 News spoke with Second in Command at the Orange Walk Police Formation Selvyn Tillett who gave us the report on police records.
Selvyn Tillett
"There was one Henry Petka and Abram riding their carriage and arriving in front of the Petka family one George Petka started insulting them and thereafter it is understood that he went to his yard and took a machete and assault these people and subdued and machete taken away from him and when he called for his dad he came driving with his pickup with his shotgun and fired a shot. Henry Petka receive a braced to the right cheek, he was dealt with and after investigation police arrested and charged Mr Franz Petka for discharging a fire arm in public, repeated assault with a firearm, having a firearm whilst under the influence, drove motor vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol and he was taken to the court on Friday and he was remanded until the 21st of May."
Police Intervention Into The Matter Alledges Bribery By The Elders In shipyard
The confrontations emerging from the Shipyard community is a complicated matter that is centered on religious belief and practices. There are also allegations that the police have been bribed by several elders within the community to ensure they run their community as they see fit. Second in Command at the Orange Walk Police Formation Selvyn Tillett rejects these accusations adding that Shipyard is well within authorities' reach and control.
Selvyn Tillett
"Shipyard is part of Orange Walk, is part of Belize so we have jurisdiction over that."
Dalila ical - Reporter
"There are allegations from certain sections of the community that police is being bribed by the elders and those who leads the church and have these strict rules in order to have things run their way in the community, what is your comment on that?"
Selvyn Tillett
"You said allegations and allegations will be made and that is way to be proof."
Dalila ical - Reporter
"Do you have any occasion or anytime when there are any reports or any officer receiving money to be one sided?"
Selvyn Tillett
"This is news to me and this is the first time I heard this allegation, first time."
CTV3