The Government of Venezuela described the popular consultation as a success, with an average of 95% of citizens responding positively to the five questions asked about the fate of Essequibo. An area of approximately 160,000 square kilometers rich in crude oil, wood and minerals Caracas claims from Guyana. President of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, described the YES victory in the referendum as “historic”. Amoroso said half of the voters, approximately 10 million people, voted. Opposition media and anti-Madurism leaders considered the Government’s election call to have low turnout and constitute a political failure for Nicolás Maduro.
“This was a reaffirmation of the unity of the Venezuelan people“Amoroso noted. According to the election authority, the question regarding the rejection “In any case, in accordance with the law“95.94% responded positively to Guyana’s claim of “unilaterally disposing of a sea whose delimitation process is ongoing, illegally and contrary to international law”. A similar percentage said YES.”Establishment of the Esequiba province of Guayana and the development of an accelerated plan for the comprehensive care of the current and future population of that area.” Project “Included in the map of Venezuela“The purpose of this territorial expansion is to grant citizenship and Venezuelan identity cards to those living there.”
These aspirations create an unprecedented frontier of regional tension. Guyana has the support of the US and UK. Brazil doesn’t seem to agree with Maduro’s plan. “If there’s one thing Latin America doesn’t need right now, it’s confusion.”“said the president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva From Berlin. Before he knew the results of the consultation, Lula thought it was very likely that it would produce “the outcome his Venezuelan counterpart wants.”
mixed opinions
Caracas argues that the Essequibo River is the natural border, as it was when he was Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish Empire in 1777, and invokes the Geneva Convention, signed in 1966 before Guyana gained independence from the British crown, which laid the foundations for the solution. He negotiated and annulled an 1899 award. Georgetown argues that the International Court of Justice (ICJ)The United Nations’ highest court will decide the case.
The Palace of Miraflores doubled down on the nationalist tone of its slogans to turn the consultation into an undeniable event in the eyes of the international community. “There were no voters’ lines,” Tal Cual magazine reported.. “Referendum with coverage rather than participation“, continued the Effect Cocuyo portal. “Caracas had a timid day in the consultative referendum.”
According to former members of the Madurismo administration, this was a failure. “Maduro appears to be done putting aside the possibility of running for office next year“said former Minister of Communications and Information Andrés Izarra.
“Venezuela is defending its territory peacefully with votes,” he said vice president Delcy Rodriguez about the so-called “Operation Auction”. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López congratulated the people “for their understanding in defending the sovereignty of our homeland and Guayana Esequiba.” So did Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly (AN) and organizer of the state campaign. According to him, citizens’ participation was “impressive and magnificent”. He regretted it too Guyana President Irfaan Ali It would lend itself to humiliation by placing the national flag “on foreign soil as if it were one’s own.”
“War propaganda”
Padrino López and the vice president released a video they said was shot in territory that now belongs to Guayana; Here, locals raise that country’s flag from a pole and raise the Venezuelan flag. “We were astonished by a video circulating on social networks. Manifestations of love and patriotism,” the minister said. “This is war propaganda”“, responded Omar Khan, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Armed Forces, who assured him that the footage was fake.
There were mobilizations in different cities in Guyana to reject the neighbour’s policy and a “chain of hands” was formed to send a message of unity in the face of bilateral disagreement. “Essequibo belongs to Guyana” was the slogan launched from Georgetown. Alí assured the public that they had nothing to fear from the results of the Venezuelan referendum.
Source: Informacion
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