copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Venezuela (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-01-12): (b) sovereignty over the territory between the Essequibo River, and the boundary established by the 1899 Award and the 1905 Agreement; and (c) the purported creation of the State of ‘Guayana Esequiba’ and any associated measures, including the granting of Venezuelan citizenship and national identity cards. [...] The Court recalls that it has already set out the general background and context of the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela in its two Judgments in the present case. The dispute dates back to a series of events that took place during the second half of the nineteenth century, when Guyana was still a British colony, known as British Guiana. At that time, the United Kingdom and Venezuela both claimed the territory located between the mouth of the Essequibo River in the east and the Orinoco River in the west. In 1897, an arbitral tribunal was established to settle the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela. In its Award rendered on 3 October 1899, the arbitral tribunal granted the entire mouth of the Orinoco River and the land on either side to Venezuela; it granted to the United Kingdom the land to the east extending to the Essequibo River. Between November 1900 and June 1904, a joint Anglo-Venezuelan commission demarcated the boundary established by the 1899 Award.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-08-13): The Essequibo River (Spanish: Río Esequibo; originally called by Alonso de Ojeda; Río Dulce)[7][8] is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil–Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,014 km (630 mi) through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean. It has a total drainage basin of 156,828 km2 (60,552 sq mi) and an average discharge of 5,650 m3/s (200,000 cu ft/s). Territory near the river is argued over by Venezuela and Guyana.[9] The river is administered by Guyana after being previously colonized by the British. Historically, Venezuela has claimed the Essequibo River as their most eastern border, though in practice it was under Dutch control.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-04): Essequibo: Venezuelans back claim to Guyana-controlled oil region [...] More than 95% approved establishing a new Venezuelan state in the territory known as Essequibo, officials said. Guyana, and British Guiana before it, have administered Essequibo for over a century.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-05-07): Last updated: May 7, 2024 at 19:56 pmThe county of Essequibo encompasses approximately 290,000 people in 700 villages and communities, the majestic Kaieteur Falls – the world’s highest single-drop waterfall – and most of Guyana’s precious mineral resources to boot. It includes the Rupununi Savannahs which span thousands of acres of virtually untouched plains, rain-forested mountains, Amerindian villages and rare wildlife–one of the brightest jewels in Guyana’s tourism crown. The Essequibo is everything west of the mighty Essequibo River all the way to the border with Venezuela. Guyana’s ownership of the Essequibo is always under constant threat of usurpation by our Western neighbor, Venezuela, which has long maintained that it has a legitimate claim to all territory east of Venezuela up to the Essequibo River. There is a ubiquitous slogan in Venezuela that rings out, "the sun of Venezuela rises in the Essequibo." The bitter dispute has its roots in border lines drawn up by former colonial powers. While Guyana accepts an 1899 tribunal ruling, Venezuela insists the process was flawed by political collusion, doubling down on its claim over the entire Essequibo county.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-08-12): A1: The Essequibo is a 61,600-square-mile disputed territory (slightly larger than the U.S. state of Georgia) that is claimed by both Guyana and Venezuela but has been continuously administered and controlled by Guyana since an arbitral award given in Paris in 1899. The area comprises approximately three-quarters of Guyana’s claimed sovereign territory. In 1962, Venezuela repudiated the Paris award, indicating that there were irregularities in the way the award was determined. Because of this, Venezuela and the United Kingdom, in consultation with British Guyana, signed an agreement in Geneva in 1966 in which they agreed that they would seek a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute. Article V(2) of the Geneva agreement stipulated that no acts or activities taking place while the agreement was in force could lend support or negatively impact the claims of the parties unless they were mutually agreed. It further stated that if the parties could not agree on a means of settlement under the UN Charter, they should refer the matter to "an appropriate international organ" or, if that was not possible, to the secretary general of the United Nations.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-10): The Essequibo region of Guyana which remains a focal point in the ongoing controversy with Venezuela, holds great significance for the country. Its vast expanse is not only geographically substantial but is also endowed with a wealth of natural resources. Indeed, Essequibo plays a critical role in Guyana’s economic landscape. Through this article, the Guyana Standard aims to highlight the abundance of resources in this region. [...] The extraordinary quantity of mineral wealth embedded in the Essequibo’s subsoil fuels Guyana’s mining industry. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds extracted from this contested territory play a pivotal role in the nation’s economic prosperity. Here, we explore some of the rich minerals mined in this region. [...] With the foregoing in mind, it is clear that the Essequibo region is not merely a piece of land; it represents the lifeline of Guyana and its economic vitality. Despite threats from Venezuela, Guyanese authorities have vowed to zealously guard this landmass and its precious resources, not just for this generation but for those to come.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-04-28): The stakes are high for Guyana. Venezuela claims all the territory west of the Essequibo River, which begins near the border with Brazil and runs 600 miles north to the Atlantic Ocean, making it South America’s third-largest river after the Amazon and the Orinoco. Not surprisingly, the derivation of the river’s name is itself disputed. One account is that the name derives from an Arawak word meaning "hearth-stones," said to be a reference to the Arawak custom of collecting stones from the river’s banks for their firesides. Another explanation associates derivation with explorer Juan de Esquivel, who reputedly traveled into the Essequibo area beginning in the 16th century along the river that later was dubbed Esquivel's River. The Essequibo region, which Venezuela calls the zona en reclamación ("reclamation zone"), comprises 61,600 square miles of Guyana’s 83,000 sq mi, almost 75 percent of the country or about the size of the state of Massachusetts and a little more than the state of Georgia. It could accommodate all of England with room to spare, Jamaica fourteen-and-a-half times, and Costa Rica three times. The territory spans 6 of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions and contains around 300,000 of the country’s estimated population of just under 800,000. Many of these residents—as much as 89 percent of the population in the Upper Essequibo region—are members of Guyana’s nine distinct Indigenous groups: the Lokono (Arawak), Akawaio (Kapon), Arecuna (Pemon), Macusi, Warrau, Wapisiana, Wai, Patamona, and Kalina (Carib).
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-04-12): "The stakes are high for both countries. For Guyana, retaining the claimed Essequibo territory, which gets its name after the river, is a life-or-death matter," Griffith writes. "One gets a sense of its existential nature for the Guyanese when it’s recognized that Venezuela claims all the territory west of the Essequibo River, which begins near the border with Brazil and runs 600 miles north to the Atlantic Ocean." Griffith explains that the Essequibo comprises 61,600 sq miles of Guyana’s 83,000 sq mi, almost 75 percent of the country. It’s more than five-and-a-half times the size of Massachusetts and could accommodate Jamaica fourteen-and-a-half times, and Costa Rica three times. "The territory holds six of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions, the equivalent of states or provinces in other countries, and some 300,000 of the country’s estimated population of just under 800,000, with a noteworthy amount of them being from various Indigenous groups," he points out.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-04): Venezuelan voters were asked whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory, known as Essequibo, granting citizenship to current and future area residents and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations’ top court in settling the disagreement between the South American countries. [...] The International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana’s control over Essequibo, but the judges did not specifically ban officials from carrying out Sunday’s five-question referendum. Guyana had asked the court to order Venezuela to halt parts of the vote. [...] Venezuela’s government promoted the referendum for weeks, framing participation as an act of patriotism and often conflating it with a show of support for Maduro. The country has always considered Essequibo as its own because the region was within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial period, and it has long disputed the border decided by international arbitrators in 1899 when Guyana was still a British colony.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (1998-07-20): Essequibo River, river in east central Guyana, the largest river between the Amazon and the Orinoco. It rises in the Acarai Mountains on the Brazilian border and flows northward for approximately 630 miles (1,010 km) through savannas and forests to the Atlantic Ocean. It reaches the Atlantic Ocean 13 miles (21 km) west-northwest of Georgetown, the national capital. Its estuary, 20 miles (32 km) wide, is obstructed by islands and silt. With its chief tributaries, the Rupununi, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni, its system drains more than half of Guyana. The Essequibo is navigable by small ocean vessels to Bartica, 50 miles (80 km) inland, and by boats for long reaches between rapids. Its name is that of the old Dutch colony of Essequibo, settled from 1616 and one of the entities that joined together in 1831 to form British Guiana, now Guyana.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-09-27): The Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute is an ongoing territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region, also known as Esequibo or Guayana Esequiba in Spanish (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaˈʝana eseˈkiβa] ),[1] a 159,500 km2 (61,600 sq mi) area west of the Essequibo River. The territory, excluding the Venezuelan-controlled Ankoko Island, is controlled by Guyana as part of six of its regions,[note 1] based on the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award. It is also claimed by Venezuela as the Guayana Esequiba State.[2][page needed][3][4] The boundary dispute was inherited from the colonial powers (Spain in the case of Venezuela, and the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in the case of Guyana) and has persisted following the independence of Venezuela and Guyana. [...] Venezuela recognises as territory of the new State the one which is located on the east of the right bank of the Essequibo River, and reiterates before the new State, and before the international community, that it expressly reserves its rights of territorial sovereignty over all the zone located on the west bank of the above-mentioned river. Therefore, the Guyana-Essequibo territory over which Venezuela expressly reserves its sovereign rights, limits on the east by the new State of Guyana, through the middle line of the Essequibo River, beginning from its source and on to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-05-31): The Essequibo is a river flowing through Guyana in South America and is the country's largest river and the continent's third largest. It has its source in the Acarai Mountains near the Guyana-Brazil border, from where it flows for 630 miles to drain into the Atlantic Ocean. Along its length, the river nourishes vast swathes of forests and savanna. The Essequibo River flows through mountains and valleys, with the Guiana Moist Forests ecoregion dominating the landscape in its basin. Before entering the ocean, the river passes through Guyana's largest city and capital, Georgetown. From there, it flows for 13 miles to the sea. [...] After several conflicts, Guayana, along with the Essequibo River, was brought under the leadership of the British Empire. After this period, the Essequibo River territory became a region of contention between Guayana and Venezuela (which borders Guayana to the west). While both nations signed a treaty in 1899, Venezuela still contests the treaty as unfair.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-07-17): The Essequibo River is not just a geographical feature; it’s a lifeline coursing through the heart of Guyana, South America’s only English-speaking country. This majestic river, stretching approximately 1,010 kilometers (628 miles) from its source in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazilian border to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean, holds profound significance for Guyana’s landscape, culture, and biodiversity. [...] The Essequibo River is Guyana’s largest river by volume of water discharge and watershed area, making it a cornerstone of the country’s hydrology and ecology. Its name, derived from the indigenous Arawak language, reflects its importance as a central artery in the Guiana Shield region, known for its ancient rock formations and pristine rainforests. [...] In conclusion, the Essequibo River stands as a testament to Guyana’s natural wealth and cultural heritage, embodying the resilience and biodiversity of the Guiana Shield region. As Guyana strives towards sustainable development, conservation efforts remain pivotal in safeguarding this vital waterway and the ecosystems it supports. Whether you’re drawn to its ecological wonders, cultural significance, or recreational opportunities, the Essequibo River invites you to embark on a journey of exploration and appreciation.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-30): The Essequibo River is a mighty river in South America that flows through the heart of Guyana, leaving an unforgettable impression on the country's landscapes, biodiversity, and history. This impressive waterway is the most extensive in Guyana, showcasing its natural beauty and cultural significance. The Essequibo River, a titan among South American rivers, gracefully meanders through the heart of Guyana, leaving an indelible mark on the nation's landscapes, biodiversity, and history. This majestic watercourse, the longest and most comprehensive in Guyana, is a testament to the country's natural splendor and cultural significance. [...] The source of the Essequibo River lies in the Acarai Mountains, an enchanting region of wet, forested highlands located in the southern part of Guyana, along the country's border with Brazil. From its mountainous origins, the river embarks on an extraordinary journey, flowing northward through the varied terrain of eastern Guyana, covering an impressive distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Finally, with unwavering determination, the Essequibo reaches the Atlantic Ocean, making its grand exit just 21 kilometers (13 miles) west of the Guyanese capital, Georgetown.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2019-06-15): Have you ever heard of the Essequibo River, one of Guyana’s three great rivers? A day trip along this river is a great way to explore the history and nature of Guyana without having to travel far from Georgetown! [...] We also learned that the Essequibo River is named after Juan de Esquivel, a Castillian seafarer and explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on some of his voyages to the West Indies. Esquivel never actually visited Guyana, but his ships did – the first recorded European journey to the Essequibo river dates back to 1499. [...] Essequibo River Practical Info - Our tour was organised by Old Fort Tours, a Guyanese tour operator specialising in the Essequibo River area.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-01-08): Territorial Dispute between Guyana and Venezuela: Navigating the Essequibo [...] The Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela dispute sovereignty over a territory of approximately one hundred and fifty-nine thousand (159,000) square kilometers west of the Essequibo River, along the border between the two countries. The parties to the dispute, however, have changed since the nineteenth century, as the Spanish, Dutch, and British colonial footprint gradually faded with the emergence of the South American Republics. The dispute has led to the execution of international treaties, international arbitration proceedings and a Good Offices process under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General. The discovery of significant offshore oil reserves has further inflamed tensions and with Guyana filing an Application against Venezuela before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the parties now find themselves at a critical juncture of this long-standing dispute. [...] Quintero Vollmer, F.A. (2021). Territorial Dispute between Guyana and Venezuela: Navigating the Essequibo.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2009-01-01): The Venezuelan Boundary Dispute officially began in 1841, when the Venezuelan Government protested alleged British encroachment on Venezuelan territory. In 1814, Great Britain had acquired British Guiana (now Guyana) by treaty with the Netherlands. Because the treaty did not define a western boundary, the British commissioned Robert Schomburgk, a surveyor and naturalist, to delineate that boundary. His 1835 survey resulted in what came to be known as the Schomburgk Line, a boundary that effectively claimed an additional 30,000 square miles for Guiana. In 1841 Venezuela disputed the British delineation, claiming territorial delineations established at the time of their independence from Spain. Venezuela claimed its borders extended as far east as the Essequibo Riveran effective claim on two-thirds of British Guianas territory. When gold was discovered in the disputed territory, Great Britain sought to further extend its reach, claiming an additional 33,000 square miles west of the Schomburgk Line, an area where gold had been discovered. In 1876 Venezuela protested, broke diplomatic relations with Great Britain, and appealed to the United States for assistance, citing the Monroe Doctrine as justification for U.S. involvement.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-10): Venezuelans on Sunday approved a referendum to claim sovereignty over Essequibo, a mineral-rich territory that accounts for two-thirds of Guyana and lies near big offshore oil deposits. Military confrontation appears unlikely for now, but several countries have echoed Guyana's concerns over an annexation by its neighbor to the west. [...] In 2015, major oil deposits were first discovered off Essequibo's shore by an ExxonMobil-led consortium, piquing the interest of Venezuela, whose commitment to pursuing the territorial claim has fluctuated over the years. [...] Guyanan Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday urged oil companies that have concessions near the Essequibo region to ignore Maduro's comments and actions and warned Guyana would take any necessary steps to protect its sovereignty.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-29): Venezuela and Guyana have been locked in a land dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana's territory, but has long been claimed by Caracas. [...] Venezuela's century-old claim on Essequibo has been revived since massive offshore oil deposits were discovered in the region and Guyana began handing out licenses to oil companies to operate there. [...] But Venezuela claims the Essequibo River to the region's east forms a natural border recognized as far back as 1777.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-11): The government of Guyana, under pressure from neighboring Brazil and a Caribbean trading bloc, agreed Sunday to join bilateral talks with Venezuela over an escalating territorial dispute. The century-old dispute between the two South American nations recently reignited with the discovery of masses of oil in Guyana. The government of Nicolás Maduro, through a referendum last week, has claimed sovereignty over the Essequibo territory, which accounts for two-thirds of Guyana and lies near big offshore oil deposits. [...] In 2015, major oil deposits were first discovered off Essequibo’s shore by an ExxonMobil-led consortium, piquing the interest of Venezuela, whose commitment to pursuing the territorial claim has fluctuated over the years. Oil operations generate some $1 billion a year for Guyana, an impoverished country of nearly 800,000 people that saw its economy expand by nearly 60% in the first half of this year.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-01-31): ONLINE EVENT: The Venezuelan-Guyanese Border Crisis—The Essequibo Controversy The Guyanese-Venezuelan territorial controversy over the border territory around the Essequibo River has emerged as a significant geopolitical challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Essequibo, a vast territory encompassing about two-thirds of Guyana, has emerged as a serious point of contention between the two nations. The disagreement has intensified in recent years following the discovery of massive offshore oil and gas reserves off Guyana’s coast in 2015, with Venezuela reactivating their claim over the area. On December 3, Venezuelans approved a referendum called by the government of Nicolas Maduro, claiming sovereignty of the Essequibo, and disregarding the non-interference order of the International Court of Justice.
Claim: Essequibo River is a territory of Guyana (Essequibo River, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-07): SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Guyana’s president told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his country is taking every necessary step to protect itself from Venezuela, which has ordered its state-owned companies to explore and exploit oil and minerals in the vast Essequibo region, which Guyana considers its own. [...] The diplomatic fight over the Essequibo region has flared over the years but intensified in 2015 after ExxonMobil announced it had found vast amounts of oil off its coast. Venezuela insists the region belongs to it because Essequibo was within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial period. Venezuela rejects the border that international arbitrators drew in 1899, when Guyana was still under British rule.