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| Voting system | Majority 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? | ||||
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The 2023 Venezuelan consultative referendum is a ballot measure initiated by the government of Nicolás Maduro in support of Venezuela's claim to the Guayana Esequiba region, which is disputed with, and controlled by, neighboring Guyana. The referendum is scheduled to be held on 3 December 2023.
Background
Guayana Esequiba is a claimed region of Venezuela that is administered by Guyana consisting of a 159,500 km (61,600 sq mi) region west of the Essequibo River.
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. 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 km (20,000 sq mi) as a result of a treaty with the Netherlands, and appointed Robert Hermann Schomburgk to define the western boundary. The Schomburgk line claimed an additional 80,000 km (31,000 sq mi) for the British.
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.
Venezuela insists on following the terms of the 1966 agreement and achieving a solution through dialogue. 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).
Questions
The following questions were approved by the National Electoral Council on 23 October 2023 and approved by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Justice Court on 1 November 2023:
- "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?"
- "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?"
- "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?"
- "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?"
- "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?"
Reactions
The proposed questions were condemned by the Guyanese government, which appealed to the ICJ for intervention against Venezuela. In addition, Commonwealth of Nations Secretary-General Patricia Scotland condemned the referendum proposal on grounds of territorial sovereignty, and the leadership of the Caribbean Community voiced support for Guyana.
See also
References
- "Venezuela sets referendum date on territory dispute with Guyana". Reuters. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- 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.
- ^ 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.
- Summary of the Judgement of 18 December 2020
- ^ Chabrol, Denis (2023-10-23). "Venezuelan electoral council approves five questions for referendum on Essequibo". Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- "Statement by the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the escalation of the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute". Commonwealth. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- "Caricom urges respect for international law". Jamaica Observer. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
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