LONDON, CMC – Guyana Tuesday offered what it mentioned is the proof that Venezuela intends to realize possession of the mineral and forest-rich county of Essequibo by a referendum on December 3.
Lawyer Paul Reichler outlined Georgetown’s place in his presentation to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) that’s conducting public hearings dedicated to the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Guyana on October 30, 2023.
In its request, Guyana had mentioned that the Venezuelan authorities, by its Nationwide Electoral Council, had revealed a listing of 5 questions that it intends to place earlier than the folks of Venezuela in a “Consultative Referendum” subsequent month.
“In line with the applicant, the aim of this referendum is to “acquire responses that may assist Venezuela’s resolution to desert [the current proceedings before the Court], and to resort as a substitute to unilateral measures to ‘resolve’ the controversy with Guyana by formally annexing and integrating into Venezuela the entire territory at concern in these proceedings, which includes greater than two-thirds of Guyana,” the ICJ mentioned.
Reichler offered a number of social media textual content and video posts by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Defence Minister Vladímir Padrino López, and army personnel that they had been getting ready to disregard the ICJ, getting ready a touchdown strip and would have interaction in fight.
Reichler justified Guyana’s resolution to take the difficulty earlier than the ICJ urgently due to the implications for the nation’s continued management of Essequibo even when the ICJ reaffirms that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award settled the land boundary between the 2 nations.
“Urgency is proven by the approaching referendum to be held lower than three weeks from now, which might be the set off for the execution of Venezuela’s annexation plans and by the preparations of the nationwide Bolivarian Armed Forces to safe Venezuela’s declare to the territory,” Reichler mentioned.
He advised the ICJ panel that Guyana’s proper to Essequibo could be “irreparably prejudiced” and would undergo “irrecoverable lack of the territorial rights” if the ICJ discovered that Guyana has no rights to that nation.
Reichler mentioned that Venezuela has made it clear that the aim of that referendum wouldn’t merely be to evaluate public opinion however to acquire in style assist for selections that the federal government has already made and a license to behave on these selections.
We had been additionally showing for Guyana earlier than the ICJ was Professor Alain Pellet, who mentioned that on October 3, the Venezuelan Nationwide Guard was seen patrolling the Cuyuni River within the Essequibo area, closely armed and claiming that “we’re patrolling in our Essequibo” as a part of “our Territorial Defence System.”
He mentioned the Venezuelans mentioned, “Our army troops are patrolling as a single unit exercising our sovereignty as a result of the solar of Venezuela was born in Essequibo.”
Pellet mentioned there was no software or expectation on the referendum questions associated to maritime points because the Courtroom had already dominated that it had no such jurisdiction to cope with maritime points.
These, he acknowledged, must be handled by peaceable negotiations by the 2 nations or settlement by neutral worldwide adjudication or arbitration or a brand new case to the ICJ.
“Much more ominously, Venezuela’s Minister of Defence had posted a collection of tweets threatening armed intervention in opposition to Guyana and its licensees in these maritime areas.”
Earlier, Guyana’s Agent, Carl Greenidge, advised the ICJ it “stands because the guardian to that gateway” in opposition to hurt.
“Guyana has not wavered in its belief within the Courtroom. It’s the solely means for attaining a simply, last, and binding resolution to the controversy between two events by worldwide legislation. The Courtroom alone stands between such an answer and chaos. Chaos that may threaten peace and safety for Guyana and the Caribbean Area and past.”
Greenidge advised the ICJ that Guyana’s proper to over two-thirds of its territory is being threatened, and may Venezuela be allowed to proceed, there could possibly be irreparable harm but additionally everlasting loss.
“What would develop into of Guyana’s rights to the Essequibo Area? These are the rights Guyana seeks to substantiate on this case. This Courtroom has twice affirmed the very rights whose existence it has jurisdiction to find out. As soon as Venezuela creates a brand new state, incorporates this territory, and grants Venezuelan citizenship to the inhabitants, how will this seizure of Guyana’s territory be reversed if, in its judgment on the deserves, the Courtroom guidelines that the 1899 Award is legitimate and that Guyana is the lawful sovereign?
“How will Venezuela’s actions be reversed, and Guyana’s rights to the territory be restored, if Venezuela rejects the court docket’s jurisdiction and refuses to acknowledge the validity of its judgment on the deserves.”
Greenidge, a former Guyana vice President and minister of overseas affairs famous that the Caribbean Group (CARICOM) has mentioned that worldwide legislation strictly prohibits the federal government of 1 state from unilaterally seizing, annexing, or incorporating the territory of one other state and affirmative vote.
The 15-member CARICOM grouping, the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Group of American States (OAS) have additionally rejected the referendum, stating that worldwide legislation strictly prohibits the Authorities of 1 State from unilaterally seizing, annexing, or incorporating the territory of one other state and famous that the referendum would open the door to the attainable violation of this basic tenet of worldwide legislation.
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