ICJ Referendum

The ICJ Referendum is a vote that the citizens of Belize will have on whether or not to settle a border dispute with Guatemala at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Background: In 1859 Britain and Guatemala signed a treaty which defined the western and southern borders with Guatemala. The Treaty included a provision that both countries would make their best efforts to build a cart road from Guatemala City to the Atlantic Coast.

After a a while, when the road still wasn’t built, Guatemala blamed Britain and suggested that the it was a treaty of cession, or them giving up land, and because Britain violated it, they were due to get the land back.

In 1946, Guatemala tried to get the treaty invalidated. Britain suggested that Guatemala submit the matter to the ICJ, and Belize has supported this approach. After years of failed negotiations, Guatemala has agreed to go to the ICJ in a vote taken in 2018. On April 10, 2019, Belizeans will vote on whether they also want to submit the matter to the ICJ. This would make the ICJ’s decision final as it relates to territories, and boundaries, both land and maritime.

Why is Guatemala fvckin with Belize?

Simply stated, land and natural resources. Population pressures are causing Guatemala to want that old thing back.

What’s the likely outcome?

Belize would likely maintain it’s borders due to the fact that customary law would back Belizeans as Spaniards and Guatemalans never settled Belize. Also, the concept of “stability of frontiers”, has been reaffirmed with: Cambodia v. Thailand (1962), Greece v. Turkey (1978), Libya/Chad (1994) and Nicaragua v. Colombia (2007).