Venezuela Accuses Opposition Politicians of Treason and Sabotage

In a dramatic turn of events, Venezuela has ordered the arrest of several politicians affiliated with the opposition presidential candidate, María Corina Machado. The Attorney-General, Tarek William Saab, accused them of attempting to sabotage the recent referendum on Venezuela’s claim to the disputed Essequibo region. While the majority of voters supported the government’s position on Essequibo, critics have raised questions about the turnout and described the referendum as a tactical move by President Nicolás Maduro to distract from calls for free and fair elections. These developments have not only escalated tensions between Venezuela and its neighbor, Guyana, but have also intensified the conflict between the government and its critics. The arrest warrants issued by Saab indicate a potential crackdown on dissent by the Maduro administration. It is claimed that the opposition politicians were involved in a “transnational conspiracy” funded by US oil giant Exxon Mobile to undermine Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo region. This area, administered by Guyana, covers two-thirds of the land currently controlled by the country and is an oil-rich region. However, Venezuela has long disputed a 1899 decision by an international tribunal that awarded the area to British Guiana at the time (now Guyana). Guyana has taken the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, but Venezuela has refused to accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction. As part of the recent referendum, Venezuelans were asked five questions, including whether they agreed with the government’s rejection of the ICJ’s jurisdiction. The electoral authorities announced that over 95% of voters supported the government’s position on the matter. However, critics have cast doubt on the figure and pointed out the relatively quiet polling stations during the alleged large turnout. The arrest warrants issued by Saab target not only members of María Corina Machado’s team, but also key opposition politicians living in exile, such as Juan Guaidó, Julio Borges, David Smolanski, Carlos Vecchio, and Leopoldo López. Saab accuses these individuals of being involved in a conspiracy to sabotage Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo, allegedly financed by laundered money from international organizations and foreign companies like Exxon Mobil. These recent developments have raised concerns among countries in the Western Hemisphere. Brazil has announced the deployment of troops to its border with Venezuela, while the US National Security Council describes the situation as “concerning.” The international community closely observes these events, as tensions continue to rise between Venezuela and its neighbors, and apprehensions mount regarding the authoritarian tendencies of the Maduro administration.