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VENEZUELA’S AGGRESSION TOWARDS GUYANA

Learn about Venezuela's spurious claim to Guyana's territory and the history of border disputes. Understand the implications of Venezuela's aggressive actions and the way forward for Guyana.

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VENEZUELA’S AGGRESSION TOWARDS GUYANA

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  1. VENEZUELA’S AGGRESSION TOWARDS GUYANA Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese Major General (retd) Joseph G Singh, MSS

  2. Aim of this Presentation • To provide a brief background to the spurious claim by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) to Guyana’s territory • To highlight that Venezuelan’s spurious claim to the Essequibo Region, and the lure of hydrocarbons, have influenced its aggressive posture on Guyana’s maritime space off the Essequibo Coast • To give an overview of the acts of aggression by the BRV to Guyana and the implications of such acts • To offer points for discussion on the way forward Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  3. Definition of Border A Border is a line separating two countries and is synonymous with boundary and frontier. Established through agreements, or imposed or inherited A Boundary is defined as a line where one country ends and another begins (Wikipedia) Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  4. Background to the establishment of a defined land boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela • 1885 –USA President Cleveland threatened to go to war with the UK unless it settled the border of its colony British Guiana with Venezuela • Feb 1897 –Treaty of Arbitration signed in Washington between Great Britain and Venezuela to determine the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela • The two contracting parties undertook to consider the result of the proceeds of the Tribunal of Arbitration as a “full, perfect and final settlement of all questions referred to the Arbitrators” • Five Arbitrators -2 representatives of Great Britain nominated by the Judicial Committee of HM’s Privy Council; 2 representatives of Venezuela –Chief Justice of the USA and a Justice of the Supreme Court of the USA; the four nominees elected the 5th Member –a permanent member of the Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, who was elected President of the Tribunal • The Tribunal met in Paris for 55 sessions and on Oct 3, 1899 handed down, without explanations, a unanimous award • The Joint Venezuelan/British Mixed Boundary Commission during 1901-1905, marked on the ground the boundary defined by the Arbitral Award Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  5. Delineation of Guyana’s Maritime Territory • In 1954, by the British Guiana (alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council made by the Queen in Council of the United Kingdom, the country’s territory was extended seawards to cover the entire Continental Shelf • Article 1 of the 1958 Geneva Convention of the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zones provides that “ the sovereignty of the State extends beyond the land territory and its internal waters to a belt adjacent to its Coast, described as its territorial sea” • Venezuela signed the Convention on Oct 30, 1958 and ratified it on Aug 15, 1961 without any reservations (regarding British Guiana) relating to Article 1 . The Convention came into force on Sep 10, 1964. Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  6. GUYANA’S INTERNATIONAL (LAND) BORDERS British Guiana-Venezuela boundary line established by Arbitral Award of 1899 and marked on the ground by a Joint Venezuela-British Mixed Boundary Commission during 1901-1905 VENEZUELA GUYANA Tri-Junction Point established at the East Kutari Head Jan, 1936 by the British, Brazil and Dutch Commissions SURINAME Tri-Junction Point On Summit of Roraima Fixed on Dec 6, 1931 by British, Venezuela and Brazil Commissions BRAZIL Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  7. INTERNATIONALLY ESTABLISHED BOUNDARY MARKERS Tri-Junction Point Summit of Mt Roraima – Dec 1931 Guyana – Brazil Boundary Mark # 2 -1932 Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  8. Background to the spurious claim by Venezuela to Guyana’s territory • In Jan 1944, Severo Mallet-Prevost, an international lawyer who was a junior counsel in the team which presented the Venezuelan case before the Arbitral Tribunal in 1899, was decorated with the highest national Award, The Order of the Liberator, by the Venezuelan Government • On Feb 8, 1944, he dictated a memorandum to Judge Otto Shoenrich, a partner on his law firm, but instructed that it not be published until after his death. He alleged that the Arbitral Award was the result of a diplomatic deal between Britain and Russia and accordingly was null and void • Mallet-Prevost’s memorandum was published in 1949 and has remained the main plank in Venezuela’s contention for re-opening the border issue with Britain from 1962 leading up to Guyana’s Independence Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  9. The Acts of Aggression by Venezuela in pursuit of its Spurious Claim (1) • Sep 1966 – occupation of Guyana’s territory on Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River • Apr 14,1967- Venezuelan Vice Consul to Guyana, Leopoldo Talyhardat influenced a Conference of Amerindian Chiefs held at Kabakaburi, Pomeroon River to put forward a Joint Resolution in favour of joint development by Guyana/Venezuela of the Essequibo Region • 1968-the Raul Leoni Decree, claiming a nine mile wide stretch of Guyana’s territorial sea along the Essequibo Coast • June 1968. Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a Notice in the London Times warning off investors in the Essequibo • Jan 1969- Venezuela actively supported the attempted Rupununi secession • Feb 22, 1970- Venezuelan border troops at Ankoko Island shot up the Police Station and shelled the GDF’s border outpost at Eteringbang • 1970s and 1980s-illegal overflights of Guyana’s territory by military aircraft Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  10. The Acts of Aggression by Venezuela in pursuit of its Spurious Claim (2) • Venezuela objected to investments in the Essequibo e.g. Beal Aerospace’s proposed equatorial satellite launching station on the Waini Coast, and the development of the upper Mazaruni Hydropower Project • 2013 – Seizure of the TECNIK PERDONA survey vessel in Guyana’s Maritime Space • Aug 31, 2013 – Landing of Venezuelan Opposition members and retired military officers at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River • 2015 – The Maduro Decree claiming Guyana’s Maritime Space off the Essequibo Coast which includes proven and anticipated commercial level sub-sea hydrocarbon resources in the Stabroek and other offshore Blocks • Dec 3, 2015 Landing of a Venezuelan Military helicopter at Kaikan Village, Wenamu River • Dec 22, 2018 – Interception and attempted boarding of the Seismographic Survey Vessel RAFORM TETHYS in Guyana’s Maritime Space • Jan 9, 2019 - Venezuela’s declared intention to ‘remap’ its oil and gas prospects and enforce its sovereignty in an area inclusive of a significant percentage of Guyana’s Maritime Space, with all its resources including subsea resources (from a Bloomberg Report) Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  11. GUYANA’S BORDERS AND CLAIMS ON ITS TERRITORY GUYANA’S INTERNATIONALLY ACKNOWLEDGED BOUNDARIES SPURIOUS CLAIMS BY VENEZUELA AND SURINAME Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  12. ANKOKO ISLAND SHOWING THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY, WENAMU AND CUYUNI RIVERS TO TUMEREMO VENEZUELA OCCUPIED SINCE 1966 ANKOKO ISLAND San Martin, VENEZUELA GUYANA Cuyuni River To Bartica WENAMU RIVER Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  13. ANKOKO ISLAND, ETERINGBANG AND THE CUYUNI RIVER VENEZUELA ANKOKO ISLAND CUYUNI RIVER ETERINGBANG GUYANA Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  14. Illegal Landing by Venezuelan Opposition Leaders and retired Military Officers at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River –Aug 31, 2013 Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  15. Factors influencing delineation of the Maritime Boundary Territorial Waters, Contiguous Zone and EEZ Principle of Equidistance Theprinciple of equidistance in maritime boundary claims is a legal concept that a nation’s maritime boundary should conform to a median line that is equidistant from the shores of neighbouring States Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  16. Maritime Space EEZ & Continental Shelf Maritime Zones Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  17. Venezuela’s attempt at appropriating Guyana’s Maritime Space off the Essequibo and using a 70˚ line Guyana’s 10˚ line Punta Playa Venezuela’s 70˚ line Guyana’s Essequibo Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  18. Guyana’s Maritime Boundaries and Oil & Gas Exploration Blocks Guyana’s Maritime Boundaries Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  19. Oil Discoveries in Guyana’s Stabroek Block and Spurious claim by Venezuela Guyana’s Maritime Space claimed by Venezuela Oil Discoveries and Exploration Activities in the Stabroek Block Guyana’s 10˚ line The Maduro/Venezuela 70˚ line Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  20. PROJECTED OIL RESERVES • During 2015-2018 vast offshore reserves discovered by a consortium headed by Exxon-Mobil, in partnership with Hess and China National Offshore Oil Company • In 10 Discoveries between 2015 and 2018, the consortium has identified to date, an estimated 5 billion barrels equivalent of recoverable oil in the Stabroek Block. The extraction of between 120,000 from early 2020, rising to 250,000 by 2022 could yield between $7bn to $27bn in gross revenues per year over the next 30 years • By 2025, it should be extracting 750,000 barrels per day worth at current prices, US$15bn per year (quadruple Guyana’s current GDP) Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  21. INTERCEPTION OF EXXON CONTRACTOR’S SEISMOGRAPHIC SHIP “RAMFORM TETHYS” BY VENEZUELAN NAVY IN GUYANA’S EEZ ON 22 DEC 2018 Point of Intercept 140 km from the nearest point to the provisional 10˚ line with Venezuela and 250 km from Punta Playa Raform Tethys 10˚ line Punta Playa Stabroek Block Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  22. The Bahamas-flagged Norwegian Seismic Vessel “RAMFORM TETHYS” Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  23. Map showing the positons where the Seismic Vessel was Intercepted and Released on Dec 22, 2018 Tecnik PerdanaIncident Position 1 - Interceptionn Kaieteur Block Stabroek Block Position 2 - Release Guyana’s 10˚ line Orinocco Stabroek Block Canje Block Venezuela’s 70˚ line Maritime Boundary Guyana-Suriname Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  24. THE LEGAL ISSUES DERIVING FROM THE SPURIOUS TERRITORIAL CLAIM BY VENEZUELA • CHALLENGING OF THE VALIDITY OF THE ARBITRAL AWARD OF 1899 • VALIDITY ISSUE WAS REFERRED BY BOTH COUNTRIES TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL (SG) • THE UNSG HAS SINCE DECIDED THAT THE ISSUE OF THE VALIDITY IS TO BE DECIDED UPON BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE • DURING THIS 2-4 YEAR PROCESS VENEZUELA SHOULD NEITHER COMPROMISE GUYANA’S SECURITY NOR INHIBIT GUYANA’S DEVELOPMENT • SETTLEMENT OF THE MARITIME BOUNDARY. VENEZUELA IS NOT A SIGNATORY OF UN CONFERENCE ON THE LAW OF THE SEA BUT IS A SIGNATORY TO THE 1958 GENEVA CONVENTION ON THE TERRITORIAL SEA AND CONTIGUOUS ZONE Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  25. Guyana’s application to the ICJ to rule on the Validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, was presented by VP and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, to the Registrar of the ICJ Phillipe Couvreur, March 2018 Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  26. OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN • Environmental impacts from mining in the State of Bolivar e.g. pollution of the upper Cuyuni River and downstream impacts on communities and aquatic life • Security implications of Sindicatos and other transnational criminal organisations operating within the State of Bolivar • Raiding of mining camps on Guyana’s territory • Migration of disaffected/impoverished Venezuelans into Guyana’s border regions • Health concerns-transmission of disease into Guyana • Potential for continuing instability e.g. a call by Juan Guaido, President of the National Assembly, for the military to support the opposition forces against Maduro and the Constituent Assembly • Implications of the Jan 4, 2019 Statement of the LIMA Group (except Mexico), not to recognize Maduro’s second 6 - year term, which commenced on Jan 10, 2019 • Implications of the majority vote by the OAS on Thu, Jan 10, 2019 to not recognize the legitimacy of Maduro’s new term as President of Venezuela • Implications of the decision on Jan 12, 2019, of leading members of UNASUR (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru) to suspend their participation in the Group and establish PROSUR to counteract the influence of countries in the region supporting the MaduroRegime • Strategic interests of Russia, China , the USA, and the UK in the region need to be analysed. Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  27. CONTIGUITY OF BOLIVAR STATE AND GUYANA’S REGIONS 1 & 7 INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED BOUNDARY VENEZUELA’S MAP ANNEXING THE ESSEQUIBO VENEZUELA Guyana’s Essequibo State of Bolivar Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  28. ILLEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY DESTRUCTIVE MINING IN BOLIVAR STATE Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  29. ENVIRONMENTAL AGGRESSION Venezuela’s Mining Activities in the upper Cuyuni River Deforestation and Leaching of Effluent into the upper Cuyuni River VENEZUELA Cuyuni River Wenamu River GUYANA Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  30. Foreign Ministers of the 14 Member LIMA Group (except for Mexico, they signed Statement on Fri, Jan 4,2019 that they will not recognize the Maduro regime from Jan 10, 2019) Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  31. SUMMARY OF THE IMPACTS OF VENEZUELA’S TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION, AND POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTABILITIES ON GUYANA • IMPACTS NEGATIVELY ON GUYANA’S NATIONAL SECURITY, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • FACILITATES INTERNATIONAL PIRACY OFFSHORE • POROUS & UNREGULATED BORDERS ALLOW FOR A DEFAULT SITUATION IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, THE TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES, BIO-PIRACY AND THEFT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY • ECOCIDE FROM POLLUTED RIVERS, ILLEGAL MINING AND UNREGULATED TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES • SUSTAINED PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS ON THE GUYANA’S NATIONAL PSYCHE • RESTRICTS BI-LATERAL COOPERATION AND GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  32. CONCLUSION • Diplomatic Pressure will continue to be exercised for the international community to curb and curtail Venezuelan aggression towards Guyana • The ICJ ruling on the Validity of the Arbitral Award is eagerly anticipated • There must be continuing vigilance by the security forces and their allies in civil society to identify any incursion by Venezuela on Guyana’s territory • Guyanese citizens must be kept informed of issues relating to Guyana’s sovereignty • Progressive forces in Venezuela must be engaged to accept the legitimacy of Guyana’s position, to advocate an acceptance of the ICJ’s anticipated ruling, as well as to promote an enabling environment for constructive bi-lateral engagement • Strengthening of Guyana’s Offshore Intelligence & Security Capability Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

  33. ONE SUCH INITIATIVE IS THE INTEGRATION OF REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTH AMERICA LINKS IN THE WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA LINKS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH AMERICA VENEZUELA GUYANE SURINAME GUYANA AMAPA BRAZIL Presentation for All Patriotic Guyanese on Venezuela's Aggression -MG JGS

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