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2023 Venezuelan referendum

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2023 Venezuelan referendum
3 December 2023 (2023-12-03)
Voting systemMajority vote
1. Do you agree to reject by all means in accordance with the law, the line fraudulently interposed by the 1899 Paris Arbitration Award, which seeks to deprive us of our Guayana Esequiba?
2. Do you support the 1966 Geneva Agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the controversy over the territory of Guayana Esequiba?
3. Do you agree with Venezuela's historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba?
4. Do you agree to oppose, by all legal means, Guyana's claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation, illegally and in violation of international law?
5. Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated plan for comprehensive care for the current and future population of that territory, which includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and identity card? Venezuela, in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and International Law, consequently incorporating said state on the map of Venezuelan territory?

The 2023 Venezuelan consultative referendum is a ballot measure initiated by the government of Nicolás Maduro in support of Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo region of Guyana. The referendum is scheduled to be held on 3 December 2023.[1] The referendum consists of five questions concerning the agreement of the Venezuelan people towards the government's rejection towards the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction which explicitly ordered Venezuela not to take action against Guyana.[2] The referendum was one of the contributing factors for the 2023 Guayana Esequiba crisis.

Background

Main articles: Guayana Esequiba, Venezuelan crisis of 1895, and Geneva Agreement (1966)
Essequibo region claimed by Venezuela.

Guayana Esequiba is a claimed region of Venezuela that is administered by Guyana consisting of a 159,500 km2 (61,600 sq mi) region west of the Essequibo River.[3][4]

The Guayana Esequiba region was formerly under the control of the Spanish and Dutch empires, later being ceded to the British Empire. The region was part of the Captaincy General of Venezuela in 1777, and integrated into the First Republic of Venezuela in 1811.[4] The British recognized the Essequibo River as the border until gold was discovered in the Yuruarí River basin. In 1814 the British acquired 51,700 km2 (20,000 sq mi) as a result of a treaty with the Netherlands, and appointed Robert Hermann Schomburgk to define the western boundary. His "Schomburgk line" claimed an additional 80,000 km2 (31,000 sq mi) for the British.[4]

In 1841 the government of José Antonio Páez denounced the incursion of Venezuelan territory by the British Empire. Venezuela sought the support of the United States, which through the Monroe Doctrine, advocated for the country to intervene in the dispute in 1895.[4] The United States House of Representatives proposed Resolution 252 to Congress, which recommended the dispute be resolved by international arbitration following pressure from American president Grover Cleveland.[4] The commission that was set up during the Venezuelan crisis of 1895 established the Schomburgk Line as the border between Venezuela and British Guiana. It was the belief that the resulting decision was a compromise between the great powers of the time.[4]

The region's status is subject to the Geneva Agreement of 1966, signed by the governments of the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and British Guiana. The agreement stipulated that the parties involved will agree to find a peaceful, practical, and satisfactory resolution to the dispute.[5] Venezuela argues that the 1966 agreement nullified the results of the original arbitration that established the Schomburgk line as the border between Venezuela and Guyana.[6]

Venezuela insists on following the terms of the 1966 agreement and achieving a solution through dialogue. Venezuela believes that the principle of uti possidetis would apply in the situation.[4] Guyana's leadership rejects direct dialogue with Venezuela on the matter and President of Guyana Irfaan Ali insists on a resolution done through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Venezuela, in turn, does not recognize the legitimacy of the ICJ in resolving the dispute.[4] In 2023, the President of Venezuela sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to ask him to mediate the dispute.[4]

Claims over the territory intensified as a result of the discovery of significant discovery of oil and gas deposits on offshore sites of the territory.[2] Critics of the referendum believe that it is a way to test support for the ruling government ahead of next year's elections, as well as creating pressure for international courts to grant Venezuela full rights over the territory.[2]

Questions

The following questions were approved by the National Electoral Council on 23 October 2023[7] and approved by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Justice Court on 1 November 2023:

  1. "Do you agree to reject by all means in accordance with the law, the line fraudulently interposed by the 1899 Paris Arbitration Award, which seeks to deprive us of our Guayana Esequiba?"
  2. "Do you support the 1966 Geneva Agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the controversy over the territory of Guayana Esequiba?"
  3. "Do you agree with Venezuela's historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba?"
  4. "Do you agree to oppose, by all legal means, Guyana's claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation, illegally and in violation of international law?"
  5. "Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated plan for comprehensive care for the current and future population of that territory, which includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and identity card? Venezuela, in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and International Law, consequently incorporating said state on the map of Venezuelan territory?"[7]

Results

Question 1

Do you agree to reject by all means in accordance with the law, the line fraudulently interposed by the 1899 Paris Arbitration Award, which seeks to deprive us of our Guayana Esequiba
Choice Votes %
Result not yet known
Total votes — 100.00

Question 2

Do you support the 1966 Geneva Agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the controversy over the territory of Guayana Esequiba?
Choice Votes %
Result not yet known
Total votes — 100.00

Question 3

Do you agree with Venezuela's historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba?
Choice Votes %
Result not yet known
Total votes — 100.00

Question 4

Do you agree to oppose, by all legal means, Guyana's claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation, illegally and in violation of international law?
Choice Votes %
Result not yet known
Total votes — 100.00

Question 5

Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated plan for comprehensive care for the current and future population of that territory, which includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and identity card? Venezuela, in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and International Law, consequently incorporating said state on the map of Venezuelan territory?
Choice Votes %
Result not yet known
Total votes — 100.00

Reactions

The proposed questions were condemned by the Guyanese government, which appealed to the International Court of Justice for intervention against Venezuela. The Venezuelan ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva was summoned to express the nation's "deep concern" over the proposed referendum.[8]

The Commonwealth of Nations Secretary-General Patricia Scotland condemned the referendum proposal on grounds of territorial sovereignty.[9] The leadership of the Caribbean Community voiced support for Guyana,[10] stating that the referendum would have no bearing on international law and stating that international law prohibits an individual nation's unilateral seizure of another's territory.[11]

In response to the escalating tensions in the region, Brazil increased its military presence along its northern border.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Venezuela sets referendum date on territory dispute with Guyana". Reuters. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c van den Berg, Stephanie (15 November 2023). "Venezuela tells World Court referendum to go ahead despite Guyana resistance". Reuters. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  3. ^ British Guiana Boundary: Arbitration with the United States of Venezuela. The Case (and Appendix) on Behalf of the Government of Her Britannic Majesty Volume 7. Printed at the Foreign office, by Harrison and sons, 1898.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Paredes, Norberto (4 October 2023). "Esequibo: por qué se agudizó la disputa por la zona que enfrenta a Guyana y Venezuela desde hace casi dos siglos". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  5. ^ Summary of the Judgement of 18 December 2020
  6. ^ Garcia Cano, Regina; Arraez, Juan (29 November 2023). "Venezuela's planned vote over territory dispute leaves Guyana residents on edge". ABC News. A. B. C. News. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Chabrol, Denis (23 October 2023). "Venezuelan electoral council approves five questions for referendum on Essequibo". Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Guyana Summons Venezuelan Ambassador In Border Spat". Barrons. AFP-Agence France Presse. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Statement by the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the escalation of the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute". Commonwealth. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Caricom urges respect for international law". Jamaica Observer. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  11. ^ Chabrol, Denis (25 October 2023). "CARICOM says Venezuela's referendum has no bearing on international law". Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Brazil increases northern border military presence amid Venezuela-Guyana spat -ministry". Reuters. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
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