© Reuters. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro exhibits his poll throughout a referendum over Venezuela’s rights to the possibly oil-rich area of Esequiba in Guyana, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria
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CARACAS/GEORGETOWN (Reuters) – Venezuelans will vote on Sunday in a referendum backed by President Nicolas Maduro’s authorities over a doubtlessly oil-rich territory that’s the topic of a long-running border dispute with Guyana.
The five-question referendum features a query rejecting Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction to determine to which nation the territory across the Esequibo river belongs.
Some political and safety analysts have known as the referendum a present of energy by Maduro and a take a look at of assist for his authorities forward of a deliberate 2024 presidential election.
The courtroom mentioned in April it had jurisdiction, although a ultimate ruling on the matter could possibly be years away. Venezuela has mentioned the problem must be resolved by the 2 international locations.
On Friday, the courtroom responded to a request from Guyana to halt the referendum, ordering Venezuela to chorus from taking any motion that will alter the established order, with out expressly forbidding the vote. Each international locations hailed the ruling as backing their place.
Maduro has inspired voters to approve the referendum.
“The aim of (Maduro’s) authorities is to ship a message of energy to Guyana,” Central College of Venezuela politics professor Ricardo Sucre mentioned.
At concern is a 160,000 sq. km (61,776 sq. mile) area that’s principally thick jungle. Venezuela reactivated its declare over the territory lately after the invention of offshore oil and gasoline.
Maduro would like that Guyana adhere to a 1966 settlement for a bilateral answer, Sucre mentioned, and can also be considering of potential oil and gasoline developments. The maritime border between the 2 international locations can also be in dispute.
Political analysts have mentioned they anticipate voters to approve the proposal given the dearth of any “no” marketing campaign towards it in Venezuela and the probability that voters who’re opposed will keep dwelling.
The referendum is “consultative” and there’s no minimal variety of votes for its approval.
“The federal government is holding the referendum for inner causes,” mentioned Benigno Alarcon, director of the Middle for Political Research at Caracas’ Andres Bello Catholic College. “It wants to check its electoral equipment.”
“If the opposition joins collectively and there’s a willingness to take part (within the 2024 election) by Venezuelans, Maduro is out,” added safety analyst Rocio San Miguel. “He’s activating a situation of battle” to maybe droop the election.
The Sunday vote has induced nervousness in Guyana, with the federal government urging residents to maintain calm. Some in Georgetown voiced reduction after the ICJ ruling on Friday.
“I really feel the courtroom made a proper choice. … I can breathe a bit straightforward now,” mentioned vegetable vendor Kim Rampersaud, 41.
Brazil mentioned on Wednesday it had intensified “defensive actions” alongside its northern border amid the territorial dispute.