ConflictBarometer_2015

THE AMERICAS
Maduro accused paramilitary groups from Colombia of operating
in the area and called on his Colombian counterpart
Juan Manuel Santos to assist in tackling violent groups in the
border regions [→ Colombia (neo-paramilitary groups, drug
cartels)]. Amid the extension of areas affected by the declaration
of emergency, Venezuela started to deport Colombian
nationals from the border area. In early September, according
to local NGOs and the UN, deportation numbers reached
1,400, with another 15,000 people fleeing the area. In total,
more than 23,000 people fled the area or were deported.
Venezuelan authorities destroyed hundreds of houses built
by Colombian immigrants around San Antonio del Táchira.
Both countries recalled their respective ambassadors in late
August. Colombia's request to call an OAS meeting on the
crisis failed to muster the necessary votes whilst offers of
support by UNASUR and the UN were ultimately not taken
up. On September 8, Venezuelan security forces killed two
alleged members of a Colombian-based paramilitary group
at the border in Táchira. On September 14, Colombia accused
Venezuela of having violated its airspace with F-16 fighter
jets the day before, an incident Venezuela explained with
adverse weather conditions. This followed two incursions
on August 29 and September 12 with a Cougar transport
helicopter and a Sukhoi Su-MK2 fighter aircraft, respectively.
On September 18, about 15 Venezuelan soldiers crossed the
border into Colombia's La Guajira department, prompting the
Colombian army to permanently deploy military forces in
Maicao municipality.
Mediated by Ecuador and Uruguay, Maduro and Santos held
a meeting on September 21, agreeing to normalize relations
and work toward the resolution of the crisis. bkm
VENEZUELA COLOMBIA (MONJES ISLANDS)
Intensity: 1 | Change: | Start: 1871
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Venezuela vs. Colombia
territory, resources
The dispute between Venezuela and Colombia over the territory
of the Monjes archipelago and adjacent maritime possessions
and resources in the Gulf of Coquibacoa continued.
While Venezuela referred to the islets as its federal dependencies,
Colombia repeatedly expressed its claim to the
territory. This year, tensions resurfaced after a territorial
dispute between Venezuela and Guyana had erupted and
led to a region-wide controversy about maritime possessions
[→ Venezuela Guyana]. On May 26, a decree issued
by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro defined extensive
sea areas as one of several ''Operating Zones of Integral
Maritime and Insular Defense'' (Zodimain) for Venezuela, implicitly
including the Gulf of Coquibacoa. Colombian Foreign
Minister María Ángela Holguin delivered a protest note to
the Venezuelan government shortly thereafter. On June 23,
Maduro proposed the establishment of a bilateral commission
in order to find a solution. On July 6, Maduro underlined
that the two countries ''will never have a war-like conflict''
and offered a revised decree omitting the area under dispute.
peh
VENEZUELA GUYANA
Intensity: 2 | Change: NEW | Start: 2015
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Venezuela vs. Guyana
territory
The non-violent crisis over maritime possessions and the
Guayana Esequiba territory between Venezuela and Guyana
resurfaced. Guyana's position was supported by CARICOM
and the Commonwealth. Venezuela made clear its preference
for mediation by the CELAC. The conflict had developed after
a 1899 territorial settlement was declared null and void by
Venezuela in 1962. Instead, Venezuela laid claim to almost
the whole area west of the Essequibo River, extending to almost
two-thirds of Guyana's territory without having resorted
to escalatory measures since.
In response to oil exploration activities by ExxonMobil in
March, which had been authorized by Guyana in maritime
areas also claimed by Venezuela, the latter issued Decree
No. 1787 that included the region in an extensive ''Operating
Zone of Integral Maritime and Insular Defense'' (Zodimain) on
May 26. This measure implied future military deployments
and naval activities, which also led to renewed tensions
with Colombia [→ Venezuela Colombia (Monjes Islands)].
Guyana's newly elected President David Granger deemed the
decree ''a violation of international law.'' On June 8, Guyana's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused its neighbor of causing ''a
threat to regional peace and security'' and of Guyana ''vigorously
resisting'' Venezuelan attempts to enforce changes in
the existing boundaries.
In early July, Venezuela ended its rice import agreement with
Guyana, a move with considerable consequences for Guyana
that had been selling 40 percent of its rice to its neighbor in
exchange for oil on concessionary terms. On July 6, Maduro
announced the recalling of its ambassador to Guyana as well
as the reduction of its diplomatic staff in Guyana amid a reconsideration
of relations. The same day, Guyana suspended
flights by Venezuela's state airline Conviasa. Venezuela later
replaced its Decree 1787 with Decree 1859 which no longer
included the geographical coordinates of the claimed maritime
territories.
On July 10, Venezuela announced its plan to issue identity
cards to 200,000 residents in the Essequibo region and
to distribute information about the territory allegedly being
Venezuelan. Guyana promptly announced resistance to the
proposal. In late July, Guyana published the country's maritime
coordinates in its official gazette.
In early August, ExxonMobil stated it had removed its oil platform
from the disputed location but said that it continued
conducting corresponding studies. On September 1, a UN
team arrived in Guyana to assist in resolving the conflict with
Venezuela. However, Venezuela re-emphasized its claims
in October by protesting against the activities of Canadian
mining company Goldfields in the Essequibo area. bkm
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