Topic: 2024-The Situation in Guyana
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Jessica Liu
Special Political Committee
The Situation in Guyana
Kingdom of Thailand
Jessica Liu
Forest Hills Northern
Thailand acknowledges the current border conflict between Guyana and Venezuela in the Essequibio region, with historical origins in the 1814 Treaty of Paris. This treaty, in which Britain gained the territory of British Guiana (now Guyana) without a defined west border, set the stage for the ongoing conflict. The situation has further developed through actions taken by the United Nations, disputes, and incidents such as the Schomburgk Line, which claimed an additional 30,000 miles for Guiana; the 1899 arbitration ruling favoring British Guiana; and the 1996 Geneva Agreement, which established a Mixed Commission to resolve the dispute, but ultimately fell through due to a lack of cooperation. The Geneva Agreement of 1996 itself states, “…any outstanding controversy between… British Guiana, on the one hand, and Venezuela, on the other, would prejudice the furtherance of such cooperation and should be amicably resolved in a matter acceptable to both parties,” advocating for an amicable resolution and referencing closer cooperation, leading to mutual benefit. As the global geopolitical landscape is interconnected, and instability in one region can have ripple effects worldwide, Thailand, recognizing the wishes of both sides involved, advocates for and emphasizes the importance of peaceful negotiations.
Thailand has consistently supported international efforts to mediate and resolve conflicts peacefully. A proponent of international law and adhering to principles of sovereignty acknowledged in the United Nations Charter, Thailand is dedicated to its commitment to multilateral diplomacy. Since the 1950s, Thailand has sent over 20,000 military and police personnel to various UN missions in regions affected by territorial, ethnic, and humanitarian disputes and crises, such as Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon, and Sudan. Most notably, Thai troops have been involved in missions such as UNTAC (1992) in Cambodia, in which Thailand provided humanitarian relief along the Thai-Cambodia border and supported refugee aid through United Nations programs; UNTAET (1999-2002) in Timor-Leszte, in which Thailand has contributed to military personnel and civilian police personnel, with Lieutenant-General Winai Phattiyakul serving as Force Commander; and UNMOGIP (1949-present) in India and Pakistan, in which Thailand is one of the top 10 military contributors. While Thailand does not have a direct military interest in the Venezuela-Guyana conflict, Thailand would like to back initiatives that promote cooperation and amicable resolution to the dispute. Additionally, Thailand has historically supported the ICJ as a critical institution in upholding international law, as demonstrated by its adherence in the 1962 case of Cambodia v. Thailand, where the ICJ ruled in favor of Cambodia, affirming its sovereignty over the Temple of Preah Vihear, Despite being a point of dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and a controversial ruling, Thailand respected the verdict, demonstrating and reaffirming its commitment to diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution.
Adhering to our peaceful diplomacy principles, recognizing the need for a fair resolution to the dispute, and emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, Thailand advises the United Nations that international legal systems, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which was not enforced in the 1996 Geneva Agreement, is an essential way to approach the resolving of the conflict. By international legal frameworks, Thailand urges Venezuela and Guyana to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a definitive legal ruling, as it has done in past disputes. Of course, Thailand realizes that the Venezuelan-Guyanan border dispute is not solely due to territory but also due to economic and resource-based issues, namely the oil reserves in the Essequibo region. Thailand advocates for the UN to implement measures to facilitate a renewed dialogue and cooperation between the two nations to assist with both parties’ compliance with the ICJ ruling. Actions such as the establishment of a joint Venezuelan-Guyanese commission to discuss the management of oil and other resources in the Essequibo region, with the involvement of international observers to ensure equity, as well as a close monitorization of the current ceasefire, are crucial to resolve this dispute and ensure the peace and stability of the region.
Works Cited:
“Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations – Office of the Historian.” State.gov, 2024, history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/venezuela. It was accessed on 14 Nov. 2024.
“Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand).” Icj-Cij.org, 2017, www.icj-cij.org/case/45. It was accessed on 14 Nov. 2024.
To Contributors. “Border Treaty between Venezuela and UK Regarding Guyana.” Wikipedia.org, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 3 Oct. 2015, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Agreement_(1966). It was accessed on 14 Nov. 2024.
“Secretary-General Chooses International Court of Justice as Means for Peacefully Settling Long-Standing Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases.” Un.org, 30 Jan. 2018, press.un.org/en/2018/sgsm18879.doc.htm. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
No. 8192 VENEZUELA and UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN and NORTHERN IRELAND Agreement to Resolve the Controversy over the Frontier between Venezuela and British Guiana. Signed at Geneva, on 17 February 1966 VENEZUELA et ROYAUME-UNI de GRANDE-BRETAGNE et D’IRLANDE DU NORD. treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20561/volume-561-I-8192-English.pdf.
“UNITED NATIONS TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY in CAMBODIA (UNTAC) – Background (Summary).” Un.org, 2024, peacekeeping.un.org/mission/past/untacbackgr1.html. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
“Thailand, the Land of the Free, and Its International Peacekeeping Efforts.” Asia Society, 2014, asiasociety.org/korea/thailand-land-free-and-its-international-peacekeeping-efforts. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
“Policy Statement of the Council of Ministers of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra – กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ.” กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ, 2024, www.mfa.go.th/en/page/foreign-policy?menu=5e1fcc1657b01e001a03f7d2. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
