Citizens of Venezuela are participating in a referendum to allegedly determine the fate of a significant area of nearby Guyana, which their government asserts belongs to them. They argue that the land was taken from them when a border was established over a hundred years ago.
Guyana views the referendum as a move towards annexation and it has caused anxiety among its citizens. The referendum poses the question to Venezuelans of whether they endorse the creation of a state in the disputed territory of Essequibo, granting citizenship to present and future inhabitants, and rejecting the authority of the United Nations’ highest court in resolving the dispute between the two nations in South America.
The International Court of Justice issued a ruling on Friday directing Venezuela to refrain from any actions that would disrupt Guyana’s authority over Essequibo. However, the judges did not explicitly prohibit officials from conducting the five-question referendum scheduled for Sunday.
The country of Guyana had requested that the court mandate Venezuela to cease certain aspects of the voting process.
The consequences and practical ramifications of the referendum are still uncertain. However, in her explanation of Friday’s ruling, Joan E Donoghue, the president of the international court, stated that statements made by Venezuela’s government indicate that they are making moves to gain control and manage the disputed territory.
In addition, it was stated by Venezuelan military authorities that they are implementing tangible actions to construct an airstrip intended to function as a “logistical support point for the comprehensive development of the Essequibo,” according to her statement.
The territory, spanning 61,600 square miles (159,500 square kilometers), makes up two-thirds of Guyana and shares a border with Brazil. This week, Brazil’s defense ministry announced that it has increased its defense efforts and military presence in response to the ongoing dispute over the territory.
Essequibo is larger than Greece and rich in minerals. It also gives access to an area of the Atlantic where oil in commercial quantities was discovered in 2015, drawing the attention of the government of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.
The Venezuelan government encouraged and advertised the referendum for several weeks, presenting it as a display of loyalty to the country and often linking it to a demonstration of support for Maduro. The government also organized a simulated referendum last month, but did not disclose the number of participants or the outcome.
Venezuela has historically claimed ownership of Essequibo due to its inclusion in its borders during the time of Spanish colonization. The country has continuously contested the border determined by international arbitrators in 1899, when Guyana was under British rule.
The decision for that border was reached by arbitrators from Britain, Russia, and the US. The US was chosen to represent Venezuela on the panel, as the Venezuelan government had terminated diplomatic relations with Britain.
Venezuelan officials contend the Americans and Europeans conspired to cheat their country out of the land and argue that a 1966 agreement to resolve the dispute effectively nullified the original arbitration.
In 2018, Guyana requested that the international court of justice uphold the legal validity of the initial agreement, as it is the sole English-speaking country in South America. However, a decision on this matter is not expected for several years.
On Sunday, voters will be asked if they “consent to refuse using any methods, as stated by the law” the 1899 border and if they endorse the 1966 agreement as the sole legitimate legal method for achieving a resolution.
Maduro and his supporters are encouraging voters to respond with a “yes” to all five questions on the referendum.
Source: theguardian.com
