2023-12-06 23:39:39
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, launched this Tuesday an action plan on the territory in dispute with Guyana, which includes the granting of licenses for oil exploitation and military deployments in towns near the area under dispute, without announcing an incursion into the disputed area.
“Guyana must know that we fix this problem the easy way or we fix it,” said the president, applauded by ministers, soldiers, mayors and governors, after announcing nine decisions that mark the new direction of Caracas in the dispute with Georgetown over the almost 160,000 kilometers Essequibo squares.
The event, which was also attended by diplomats and opponents, took place two days after the unilateral referendum in which Venezuelans, encouraged by the Executive, approved annexing the disputed area, over which Venezuela has not exercised control since 1899.
Defense and oil
President Maduro ordered the creation of a military division to serve the area in question, without announcing any armed incursion into the territory, as he ordered the Armed Forces to settle in a nearby town, but not on the border with Essequibo, in a “provisional” manner. . This, he said, will change once Parliament – controlled by Chavismo – approves the law of annexation of this territory, which could happen soon, as deputies will begin to debate the matter tomorrow.
Maduro also asked legislators to establish a rule that prohibits the hiring of companies “that operate or collaborate in the concessions” given by Guyana in the sea that Venezuela considers “pending to be delimited,” and suggested giving these companies a period of three months. so that they abandon their jobs, mainly related to hydrocarbons.
At the same time, he asked the state oil company PDVSA to “immediately” begin to “grant operating licenses for the exploration and exploitation of oil, gas and mines” in Guayana Esequiba, the name that will be given to the provincial state that they plan to create in the disputed area.
Although the order was issued with immediate effect, the president did not estimate the time it will take for the first concession to be finalized, which would mean, if it occurs, Venezuela’s first action within the area since the 19th century.
Identity and environment
Maduro’s resolutions also included the publication of a new national map, which will be distributed in all State institutions and educational centers, in which the so-called “claim zone” ceases to be so – only for Venezuela – and becomes in the state of Guayana Esequiba, stripping Guyana of two-thirds of its geography.
“I announce the immediate activation of a human and social care plan for the entire population of Guayana Esequiba, the carrying out of a census, the beginning of the delivery of the identity card,” said the president during an event with ministers, mayors, governors, diplomats, soldiers and other high officials.
Venezuela plans to begin granting nationality to the 125,000 people who live in Essequibo, mostly indigenous communities, who were not consulted about Caracas’ decisions nor have they been given the opportunity to decide about their future. According to Maduro, it is about “the immediate activation of a human and social care plan” for this population that they hope to submit to a census of which there are no details, and begin to deliver Venezuelan identity cards. To this end, it is planned to open an office of the Identification, Migration and Immigration Service (Saime) in the mining town of Tumeremo – Venezuelan territory – “to direct all these identity efforts.”
Maduro also proposed to Parliament to create a law to decree “special protection areas” and the creation of “new protected parks that are a tourism center.” According to him, this mineral-rich territory has been “dismembered” by Guyana, so “it deserves a special plan for its recovery,” although he did not offer details in this regard.
The fight
The Chavista leader assumed responsibility for the announced actions, among which is the creation of a “high commission for the defense of Guayana Esequiba” to listen to “all the voices” of the country, including universities and religious sectors, to find out their views on the dispute. After appointing a general as the sole authority of the territory, over which he will rule from the outside “provisionally”, he reiterated that he wants peace with Guyana.
The controversy over this territory dates back to the 19th century, but since 2018 it has gained strength in view of the admission of the case by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has asked Venezuela not to complete actions that alter the current dynamics on the territory. area, administered by Guyana.
However, Maduro rejects ICJ mediation, an allegation that was also reinforced by the referendum, in which Venezuelans agreed not to recognize the jurisdiction of the international court which, in any case, will issue a decision binding on the two nations in the months to come.
The foam rises
The Government of Venezuela criticized this Wednesday that Guyana has “given the green light to the presence” of the United States Southern Command in Essequibo after the Guyanese president, Irfaan Ali, warned that his nation is in contact with this North American military command .
The Venezuelan Executive condemned recent statements by Ali, who noted that the Guyana Defense Force is “on maximum alert” and in contact with its military counterparts from other countries, including the Southern Command.
Nicolás Maduro affirmed that Georgetown’s “reckless attitude” opens up to the “imperial power” the “possibility of installing military bases,” which is “threatening the zone of peace that has been outlined in this region.” “Guyana recklessly attacks international law, carrying out actions that aggravate the territorial controversy and add to its illegal conduct of granting oil exploitation rights to the American company ExxonMobil on a sea pending delimitation with Venezuela,” he said. . And he reiterated that Georgetown “maintains a de facto occupation” in the territory in question and a “territorial dispute with Venezuela,” which must “be resolved through the 1966 Geneva Agreement, the only valid legal instrument between the parties.”
UN Secretary General António Guterres reminded Venezuela and Guyana that the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Essequibo “are binding, and he trusts that both states will duly comply with the court’s ruling.”
The ruling of the ICJ has been transmitted to the UN Security Council, the highest body in charge of ensuring peace and security in the world and which could convene a session to address this issue, as requested by the president of Guyana Irfaan Ali.
Ali said today that the action plan designed by Venezuela is “an imminent threat” to its territorial integrity and world peace, which is why he announced “precautionary measures” to protect the country. Ali also warned that the Guyana Defense Force is “on high alert” and in contact with its military counterparts in other countries, including the US Southern Command.
Venezuela and Guyana agreed this Wednesday to keep communication channels “open” in the face of their dispute over the Essequibo. In a statement, the Government of Nicolás Maduro reported the telephone contact between Foreign Minister Yván Gil and his Guyanese counterpart, Hugh Todd, in which they “agreed to keep communication channels open.”
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