Guyana’s army chief warns residents who participate in upcoming elections organized by neighboring Venezuela could be charged with treason and other felony crimes. The May 25 election is part of a push to annex the disputed Essequibo region, which has been claimed by Venezuela since 1899.
Venezuelans living in Guyana, who become involved in the election, could face arrest and deportation. Nearly 100,000 people of direct or indirect Venezuelan ancestry live in Guyana.
The Essequibo region is rich in natural resources, including gold, diamonds, and oil, and represents two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Tensions between the two countries have been rising, with recent attacks on Guyanese soldiers by Venezuela. The US Ambassador has dismissed Maduro’s threats as “saber-rattling” and stressed that the US stands with Guyana.
Guyana went to the International Court of Justice in 2018 to uphold the 1899 ruling on the border between the two countries, but the case is still pending in court.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/guyana-venezuela-elections-essequibo-dispute-a74a9e86bb8ccffe8744a0068cba8502