– calls for the immediate release of citizens
– encourages peaceful resolution, respect for international law in border disputes
DAYS after Venezuelan authorities detained and charged Guyanese fishermen operating in Guyana waters along the Waini River in Guyana territory, the American Provincial Organization (OAS) has condemned this illegal detention and called for the release of the men and ‘ u shipping immediately.
In a terse statement issued by the institution’s General Secretariat on Wednesday, the OAS said, “The General Secretariat requires the prompt and safe release of Guyanese citizens to Guyanese authorities, as well as the two vessels they are saved. ”
The OAS also acknowledged that the fishing vessels registered in Guyana and their crew operated within Guyana’s Unique Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ is an area of the sea where a sovereign state has special rights in the exploration and use of marine resources, including the production of energy from water and wind, as prescribed in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Following the detention of the 12 men on the fishing crew and fishing vessels Lady Nayera and Sea Wolf on January 21, Guyana requested that a Venezuelan naval vessel “Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24” move illegally within EEZ and the Guyana adjoining zone.
Furthermore, the Government of Guyana has considered this act an unnecessary show of aggression by Venezuelan armed forces against Guyana and Guyanese citizens. It follows the heels of a recent unilateral decree by Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, claiming Venezuela’s sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed off the coast of Guyana, west of the Essequibo River.
Guyana is currently seeking a final and binding ruling that the 1899 Arbitration Award, which established the location of the land border between the then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid, and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.
In December, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the Guyana / Venezuela border dispute case and the World Court is preparing to hear the arguments in the matter of substance.
He reminded the OAS in its statement of this ongoing judicial process and stressed, “Any attempt to dismantle this international legal process, such as the degree issued by the Maduro regime, is contrary to international law and standards, and has no significance or legal significance. ”
Also on Wednesday, during a regular meeting of the OAS Permanent Council, Ambassador Dr Riyad Insane, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the OAS, evaluated the Venezuela group of acts, despite the ongoing judicial processes.
‘REGRETTABLE’
“It is regrettable that the Government of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela has chosen to resort to unilateral use of military force to assert its territorial claims and maritime jurisdiction, which Guyana considers to be totally baseless and contrary to international law,” said Ambassador Insanally to the virtual assembly.
Furthermore, he highlighted that President Maduro’s recent decree and the illegal detention of Guyanese fishermen and fishermen were aggressive and hostile acts, which no state in the world should and cannot tolerate.
He demanded the immediate release and return of the Guyanese and their ships, and called on Venezuela to participate in the pre-ICJ process, from which the Spanish-speaking country has so far abstained.
At that meeting, several representatives of the OAS country called on Venezuela to release members and ships of the civilian crew and further, to refrain from its hostile acts. Instead, they urged Venezuela to participate in the recognized and reputable legal process.
“The United States condemns the seizure and detention of the two Guyanese fishing vessels on January 23 by the Maduro regime navy and calls for the immediate release of Guyanese vessels and crew,” Bradley Freden, United States Deputy Permanent Representative to the OAS, He said.
He highlighted that the United States supports a peaceful resolution to the Guyana / Venezuela maritime border debate and the North American country welcomes the ICJ’s ruling in December that it has jurisdiction to hear the case brought by Guyana.
A recent statement from the Belize Press Office that supported Guyana’s sovereignty was read to the record. That statement reiterated Belize’s unequivocal support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the process underway before the ICJ to finally and peacefully resolve the dispute between the two countries.
According to the statement, Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration Eamon Courtenay met with Venezuelan Ambassador to Belize, Gerardo Argote on Sunday for an explanation of the incident. It was noted that during that meeting, Minister Courtenay had seized the opportunity to condemn “this latest progressive breach of Guyana sovereignty.”
HUMAN RIGHTS
OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro highlighted that while the debate between Guyana and Venezuela engages the World Court, human rights cannot be ignored.
“This is an issue that affects us all as a region and [we are] in looking at a peaceful resolution in international law, ”Almargo said, adding later:“… any unilateral move without any consideration of the EEZ is not the way to resolve this. ”
In addition, Panama called for measures to protect the health and welfare of Guyanese crew members, but also stressed that the Guyanese should be released immediately.
Adding to Almargo’s statements was his compatriot and Uruguayan Permanent Representative, Washington Abdala, who reasoned that Guyana, much like Uruguay, is a small country and therefore international law and international support is the first line of defense for the countries small.
He highlighted that it is not often that so many council members agree, albeit to varying degrees, that they would agree on an issue. But, he said, “There seems to be agreement on the way forward that it should be one of peaceful resolution.”
‘PEACE REGULATION’
Meanwhile, a Guyana-born diplomat representing Antigua and Barbuda at the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders, said, “We are particularly concerned about the heightened tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, caused by recent events, particularly the detention of two civilian by a Venezuelan navy ship. Guyanese Ships Operating in the Unique Economic Zone of Guyana. “
Sir Ronald reiterated that country’s support for the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) call to end any aggression towards Guyana from Venezuela, and settle any strife by peaceful means as set out in international law.
Trinidad and Tobago Permanent Representative to the American Provinces Organization (OAS), Anthony Phillips-Spencer also reminded Senator, Dr Amery Browne, Trinidad’s Minister for Foreign and Caribbean Communities (CARICOM), that a peaceful solution to the latest Guyana-Venezuela incident had been called for over detention of two fishing boats and a Guyanese crew.
In addition to the show of support from CARICOM member states, representatives from Canada, Brazil and Guatemala all called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute between Guyana and its western neighbor in accordance with international law, at the ICJ.
But, Venezuela’s special representative to the OAS, Gustavo Tarre Briceño, who was appointed by opposition leader Juan Guaido after the Maduro government withdrew from the OAS, argued that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, was who referred the border debate to the ICJ, he should have sought agreement from both countries before doing so.
In that absence, and because of Venezuela’s reluctance to participate in the lawsuit in the World Court, Briceño supported Maduro’s feelings that the current debate between Guyana and Venezuela should be settled through bilateral commitments, which is what Venezuela considers a a peaceful resolution to the matter.
In response to these statements, Guyana’s representative rhetorically questioned, “What more peaceful and legally binding settlement methods can be separated apart from resorting to the ICJ, the highest and most respected global court?”