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A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 2 december 2023

UN court bars Venezuela from altering Guyana’s control over

disputed territory

By Mike Corder and Regina region’s current and future
Garcia Cano residents.
Associated Press Venezuela does not recog-
THE HAGUE, Netherlands nize the U.N. panel’s juris-
(AP) — The United Na- diction over the decades-
tions’ top court on Friday old dispute, but the coun-
ordered Venezuela not to try’s Vice President Delcy
take any action that would Rodríguez nonetheless
alter Guyana’s control over characterized the ruling as
a disputed territory, but a “victory for Venezuela,”
did not specifically ban given that the U.N. did not
Venezuela from holding its order a halt to the referen-
planned referendum Sun- dum plans.
day on the territory’s future. “Guyana went looking
Guyana had asked the for wool and came out
International Court of Jus- sheared,” Rodríguez told
tice to order a halt to parts reporters in Caracas after
of the vote, saying it was the ruling was announced.
aimed at paving the way Guyana President Mo-
for Venezuela to annex the hamed Irfaan Ali also wel-
disputed Essequibo region, comed the ruling. He said
which makes up some two- in a statement that the
thirds of Guyana. decision makes clear that
Both countries interpreted A woman sells fruit in front of a mural of the Venezuelan map with the Essequibo territory “Venezuela is prohibited
Friday’s ruling as largely included, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) from annexing or trespass-
backing their own positions ing upon Guyanese terri-
on the territory, which is legally binding ruling re- said that Friday’s order was before the court gives its fi- tory or taking any other ac-
larger than Greece and is mains in place until a case necessary because “Vene- nal decision.” tions” altering the Essequi-
rich in oil and minerals. brought by Guyana against zuela’s expressed readiness Venezuela has arranged bo’s boundary set in 1899,
The court order falls short Venezuela on the region’s to take action” on the dis- a referendum to ask voters regardless of the outcome
of any explicit mention of future is considered by the puted territory “at any mo- five questions Sunday, in- of any referendum.
the referendum, but says court, which could take ment following the referen- cluding whether to create At urgent hearings in No-
that Venezuela must “re- years. dum” showed that there is a Venezuelan state in Es- vember, lawyers for Guy-
frain from taking any ac- In comments explaining “a real and imminent risk sequibo and whether vot- ana said the referendum
tion which would modify the verdict, Court Presi- of irreparable prejudice to ers support granting Ven- was designed to prepare
that situation that currently dent Joan E. Donoghue Guyana’s plausible right ezuelan citizenship to the for a land-grab by Venezu-
prevails” in Essequibo. The ela. q

Authorities in Haiti hold former rebel leader Guy Philippe after the

US repatriated him

By Evans Sanon police officials told The As- were not authorized to ly lasts 48 hours, but he has Haiti in January 2017 while
Associated Press sociated Press on Thursday, speak to the media. not been charged and no he participated in a live ra-
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) speaking on condition of Philippe was being held un- hearing has been held, at- dio talk show.
— Authorities in Haiti held anonymity because they der observation, that usual- torney Jean Joseph Louich- He was extradited to the
former rebel leader Guy er told reporters gathered U.S., where he was sen-
Philippe on Friday at a po- outside the police station. tenced to nine years in
lice station where he re- “Why can’t my client re- prison after pleading guilty
mained a day after the the cover his freedom to be to a money laundering
United States repatriated with his family?” Louicher charge. Authorities had
him to Haiti, his lawyer said. said, adding that authori- said he used his high-rank-
Philippe is a convicted ties only told him they did ing position within Haiti’s
money launderer who not yet have any orders to National Police to provide
played a key role in the release Philippe. protection for drug ship-
2004 rebellion against for- Louicher said Philippe is be- ments in exchange for up
mer President Jean-Ber- ing held in a cell by himself to $3.5 million in bribes.
trand Aristide and also was and was given food, water Philippe, who has stated in
accused of masterminding and a mattress. recent interviews that he
attacks on police stations The former rebel leader intends to be involved in
and other targets. once served as police chief his country’s affairs, arrived
Philippe has an outstand- for the northern coastal city back in Haiti as it struggles
ing warrant stemming from Guy Philippe smiles during an interview in Pestel, Haiti, Aug. 24, of Cap-Haitien and had with widespread gang vio-
a 2016 fatal attack on a po- 2016. Philippe returned to Haiti on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, after been recently elected to lence and deepening po-
lice station in the southern the U.S. government deported him. Haiti’s Senate when local litical instability.q
coastal city of Les Cayes, (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery, File) authorities arrested him in