Topic: 2024-The Situation in Guyana
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Owen Krueger
Colombia has been intently watching the very tense situation between Venezuela and Guyana as our nation and people hope to see a decisive solution to this problem very quickly. Colombia values a fast and effective solution as we do not want an explosion of violence on our doorstep. Colombia seeks a coordinated international effort for the arbitration of this dispute.
Firstly, Colombia agrees with the 2023 ICJ ruling to prevent action being taken by Venezuela using the results of their referendum in the disputed Guyanese territory. Although the election appeared to show that a majority of citizens wanted to become a part of Venezuela, Colombia does not believe that this referendum accurately reflects the opinions of the people within the disputed Guyanese territory due to extremely low turnout rates. These low turnout rates could be hiding a “silent majority” of pro-Gayanese voters who did not vote because they do not believe the referendum is legitimate.
Colombia and many other nations are skeptical of the official results of the 2024 Venezuelan Presidential Election. Colombia believes that there may have been tampering by or on behalf of incumbent president Nicolás Maduro against the opposition leader Edmondo González, because of the fact that Maduro may not even still even be the rightful leader of Venezuela.
To combat these possible injustices Colombia wants to see an internationally controlled recount of the votes from the 2024 presidential election or an internationally monitored special election for the presidency to certify presidential legitimacy if there is no longer access to the ballots. Colombia believes along with many other countries that the Venezuelan people have the right to know the state of their democracy and who is actually their next president.
Colombia will call on the UN to continue to enforce the halting of any action taken by Venezuela at large, especially if the flawed referendum is used as justification for the exchange of land. Our nation would look favorably upon reinforcing the 2023 ICJ ruling which can solve the previously mentioned problems and uphold peace. Colombia believes that on top of halting action by Venezuela and further enforcing the ICJ ruling Colombia would like an Internationally monitored referendum in the disputed Guyanese territory so that the international community can be confident that the people of this territory have their right to self-determination. Overall Colombia hopes to see both Venezuela and Guyana adhere to Article 33 of the UN charter and seek peaceful arbitration if Venezuela does not give up their claims.
Works Cited
FHEDelegates. (2024, November 25). The situation in Guyana – GLICA.org. https://glica.org/glimun/committees/the-situation-in-guyana/
Guyana | Cancillería. (n.d.). https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/guyana
Milestones in the history of U.S. Foreign Relations – Office of the Historian. (n.d.). https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/venezuela
Jazeera, A. (2023, December 1). UN’s top court bars Venezuela from action in Guyana border dispute. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/1/uns-top-court-bars-venezuela-from-action-in-guyana-border-dispute
