Security Council

Language: English

Two opening speeches will be requested, one per topic, with a duration of one minute

each.

Presidents: Katalina Moreno and Juan Manuel Abello

It is a great pleasure for your presidents Katalina Moreno and Juan Manuel Abello to

welcome you to the TVSMUNXI and to the Security Council. The Security Council is

one of the six main bodies in the UN with the General Assembly, ECOSOC, ICJ, the

Trusteeship Council, the Repertory of Practice of the United Nations organs and the

Secretariat. . It has 15 members in total. 5 of them are permanent: the United States of

America, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland, the French Republic and the People’s Republic of China. The other 10

members are i n constant change. Each member has one vote and all have to vote with

the Council’s decisions in order to comply. The committee is in charge of maintaining

peace in between what are the most relevant issues and threats to international

security. Taking into account this is a key committee for the UN, we have high

expectations from you.

Topic A:Venezuelan Crisis as a security threat for the international community

Background:

Before the rise to power of venezuela’s ex-

president Hugo Chavez, the country was

already in crisis. More than half of the

population was experimenting poverty and

the economy was decreasing. In between

the 80’s and 90’s the right wing political

parties in Venezuela managed the oil

business. The administration of the base of

the economy in the country was so corrupt the politicians were using the profit of these

business for their own benefit, attempting against the public resources and the

development of the country. After the ascension to power of Hugo Chavez in 1999 the

government started spending the profits from the growing market of oil, to a point in

which debts overcame profits and economy collapsed. The government was filled with

international debts and the national profits were insufficient to fulfill venezuela’s needs,

as the price of oil dropped. These combined with corruption and the lack of

diversification in the economy led venezuela to the present crisis that is facing now. In

addition, Chavez didn't invested in machines and technology to make the oil business

prosper and started giving out oil all around the globe.

2013 is the turning point for venezuela as the crisis stopped being economical and

passed to be economical, political and social, attempting against the security of their

civilians and the international community; after chavez’s death with the rise to power of

the current president Nicolas Maduro. Maduro changed the supreme court of justice to

his favor and limited the power of the national assembly he also gave power and other

benefits to the military forces. All these as result of a clear violation of the rule of law.

Important events timeline:

El Comercio Perú. (2017, 27 julio). Nicolas Maduro lleva a Venezuela a la deriva

[Infografía del día] [Foto]. Recuperado 18 marzo, 2018

Political relevance of the topic:

Violation of the rule of law (segun la pagina web: What is the Rule of Law? | World

Justice Project) going against the democratic state of Venezuela,its government is

attempting towards everything in its constitution. As a result, politically speaking their

sovereign actions, have lost legitimacy and recognition from the international community

as they have been seen as very hard.

Due to this, the international community is facing a humanitarian crisis and a non-

started coercive dispute concerning neighboring countries. This is relevant to

understand the threat Venezuela is representing in military terms to the international

community. Venezuelan crisis as a security threat to all the region, causing enormous

political repercussion in international entities such as “OEA”. With a whole legitimate

army, Venezuela possesses an immense milicia which hinders the social development

of its population by the excessive use of the force against their people.

From the political point of view, this issue remains on the exercise of “hard power” an a

clear over estimated use of the power from Vladimir padrino Lopez and Diosdado

Cabello. Impacto CNA - Noticiero 52

Paresh, N. (2017, 25 abril). Venezuela protests [Ilustración]. Recuperado 18 marzo,

2018, de https://www.caglecartoons.com/viewimage.asp?ID=%7BEAE2A7B3-EF36-

4E20-A074-E1AE00626D9E%7D

Economical repercussion:

Nicolas Maduro since was elected as President of Venezuela for second time had

followed Hugo Chavez lineage of wasting money. Petroleum is basically the only source

of profit that the central government has. Regarding the limitation in economic terms, we

have to subjects to analyse. The first one, almost every tax venezuelan government is

receiving is directed to military weaponry to maintain hegemony of their power. The

second, do to the fact Venezuela´s unique source of income is oil and they have block

commercial relations for almost all the countries around the world, their national inflation

is now exceeding the 2000%. Generating a loose of value for the national currency and

elevating lushly prices for basic resources.(Food, Medicines, Place to Live. etc)

De Troya, E. (2016, 22 junio). Venezuela’s illegal traders have proliferated as grocery

stores are fast becoming empty [Foto]. Recuperado 18 marzo, 2018, de

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/venezuela-food-crisis-result-of-a-failed-economy-

54509

Social Influence of the conflict:

Today Venezuela is emerged into a humanitarian crisis that involves almost every

neighbor country. As this image shows Venezuelans are refuging in latin and even

european countries such as Spain.

Internation

al Organization for Migration. (2016). Venezuelan migration [Ilustración]. Recuperado

18 marzo, 2018.

Evendough humanitarian issues are not the center of the Security Council, its

responsibility of this Council to discuss and take immediate action regarding the root of

this humanitarian crisis. Which actually is the coercive measure taken by the central

government.The Security Council must show actions towards the unfair situation

against Venezuela's population. The constant persequite of political parties that goes

against Maduros principal is one of the first reasons This issue have not ended. Rights

of First, Second and Third generation are being oppressed and freedom has almost

disappeared for this population with the ideal of the constant enforcement of “hard

power”.

Worldonalert. (2017). Senadores EEUU promueven sanciones contra Venezuela en

medio de protestas [Foto]. Recuperado 18 marzo, 2018.

Watch this sites and videos to understand more about the topic:

The collapse of Venezuela, explained

The collapse of Venezuela, vox. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 4 May 2018, from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1gUR8wM5vA

Why is VENEZUELA a CATASTROPHY? - VisualPolitik ENWhy is VENEZUELA a CATASTROPHY? - VisualPolitik EN. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 4 May

2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SP2cXoeOxY

Why Venezuela’s Civil Unrest is a Threat to US SecurityWhy Venezuela’s Civil Unrest is a Threat to US Security. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 4 May 2018,

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay0sosxcXmQ

Venezuela está jodida por todos lados - La PullaVenezuela está jodida por todos lados - La Pulla. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 4 May 2018, from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deaC-dIDQQY

Así se convirtió Venezuela en una dictadura - La PullaAsí se convirtió Venezuela en una dictadura - La Pulla. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 4 May 2018,

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_eHA23kTWo

Topic Two. Boko Haram

Introduction:

The current threat of terrorism in Nigeria is an imperative issue for the international

community. the focus of the international counterterrorism is centered on the middle

east, but currently it is necessary to emphasize on terrorist activities in west africa.

numerous emerging terrorist groups, many that sustain strong ties to al-qaeda and other

radical islamic organizations are inflicting mass casualties upon civilians and foreigners

in nigeria.

certain attention is required to be paid to boko haram when talking abouts terrorism in

nigeria. boko haram is currently the most outstanding terrorist group in the country. the

core beliefs of the terrorist group relies on an interpretation of islamic faith that rejects

all aspects of western society. the group launched a violence campaign in 2009 in an

attempt to impose sharia law in nigeria. at the same time the country's government

attempts to prevent and fight the daily

violence caused by boko haram, the

country also faces several difficulties in the

social, economical and political aspects.

roots of islam in nigeria:

nigeria historically has been divided in tribal

and ethnic boundaries into numerous

states and kingdoms, however it was the

northern nigerian kingdoms of the sahara that played an essential role in the expansion

of islam into north africa. the northwestern state of songhai and he kanem-borno empire

in the northeast represented two of the most prominent northern kingdoms. in kanem-

borno the origins of islam go back to the seventh century, yet it was on the eleventh

century that the first islamic leaders held positions in the political authorities of the

region. until the nineteenth century borno continued to be the only nigerian state with

islamic tradition. along with this regional various others hel informal islamic traditions

and culture. the growth of the islamic religion in these regions represent the origin of the

global islamic movement in nigeria.

instability of the first republic and rise of the conflict:

nigeria's independence was declared and recognized in october 1st 1960 and it became

a republic in 1963. political and social unrest defined the fort two decades of nigeria's

status as a sovereign state. during this period of time, civil war and military rule caused

a great deal of violence, turmoil and economic damage, as the country struggled to

uphold the multiple conflicts of the 1960's-1970's. conflicts started to appear, concerning

the religion in that would rule in the country. rebellions started, at is core they revealed a

few basic tenets of discontent on nigeria's civilians. the majority of these movements

have been linked to religious beliefs.

Islamic revivalism:

nigeria is a country with one of the most

heavily concentrated muslim

populations outside the middle east, and

throughout time it has experienced a

sequence of positive and negative

periods in relation to the islamic religion.

one of the major points of dispute

among the northern and southern

states, has centered on the influence of

christianity and western education. in

addition, the possibility of the

implementation of sharia law on national level has served as a constant source of public

controversy. consequently of the insurgency of al-qaeda in the middle east in the late

1990's and early 2000's, the group began to perceive the ever-expanding nigerian state

as an ideal state for continuing to spread the islamic politics. as many muslim nigerians

on northern states underwent great disappointment with the influence of western ideas,

consumer goods, and academic institution in the south, larger islamic groups with great

ambitions saw opportunities for growth in other areas of the world.

rise of boko haram:

the origins of boko haram

go back to the early 2000's,

when muslims in the

northeast began to

organize themselves under

radical ideologies. In 2002,

Islamist cleric Mohammed

Yusuf officially established

the group in Maiduguri, the

capital of Borno, as an organization violently opposed to Western education and

politics.6 Yusuf’s personal and religious background provides important insights into the

origins and beliefs of Boko Haram. the official name of the organisation is Jama'atu

Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, which translates to “people committed to the

propagation of the Prophet's teachings and jihad.”. the name Boko Haram in english

means “Western education is forbidden,”. boko haram aims to eradicate everything

secular and westernized in nigeria, and establish a fully theocratic, fundamentally

islamic state. 1 Between 2002 and 2009, the group engaged in relatively nonviolent

forms of protest that comprised harsh critiques of the government’s policies on

education and morality as incompatible with the beliefs of Boko Haram. It was only after

many years of cruel treatment by government officials and police brutality following

minor clashes that the group’s radical ideologies transformed into violence. the first acts

of violence committed by boko haram occurred between 25-30 july 2009, when deadly

riots broke in Bauchi, Kano, Yobo and Borno, the four states of nigeria. boko haram was

Officially declared a terrorist organization by the United States in 2010, Boko Haram’s

deadly bombings and kidnappings, in addition to its connections to the world of

radicalized Islam, demonstrate its rising danger to the Northwest African region and the

international community.

economic

impact:

Nigeria

maintains a very

strong and

rapidly

developing

economy, thus

increasing the

stakes that the

country faces

given its recent history of volatile Islamic militancy and internal violence. in december

2013 nigeria's economy was ranked the largest in africa, with a GDP of 509.9 billion

dollars. The negative economic impact of terrorist activities in Nigeria has recently taken

on an increasingly regional nature. One important example took place in February 2013

when federal economic organizations reported that commercial activities and trade in

the northern state of Kano had fallen by 50% since 2010 as a direct consequence of

Islamic militancy in the region. Additionally, violence and insurrection in northern states

have a direct impact on the region’s economy, manifested through forced relocations

and the closing of shops due to a fear of terrorist activities.

Political Relevance:

Nigeria is a federal republic modelled

after the united states. The executive

power is exerted by the president. It is

influenced by the westminster system

model. What does the government

has to with the problem and what has

it done in response? Nigerian

government has manifested

shortcomings responding to terrorist

activities in the country. the government and military track recorded unnecessary

violence and extrajudicial killings does not bode well for a successful national counter-

terrorism policy. in 2013, HR watch reported extensive caes of civilian abuse from

government forces, such as executions and the burning of homes in cases where the

victims held no connection to any terrorist or criminal group. Nigerian authorities are still

dealing with the solving and persecuting of military and police members who unlawfully

murdered more than 130 civilians in 2008. conjointly, corruption and the lack of

organization on a national level, limits the capacity to efficiently respond to terrorist

activities with justice in the territory. also Recent actions undertaken by the country’s

military leadership, such as the sudden disbandment of the JTF in August 2013 and the

firing of all military chiefs in December 2014, display the government’s current struggle

to maintain a consistent and united response to terrorism on a national level.

Questions for further research:

● How can the Nigerian government appropriately address violence within its own

borders while maintaining a regional perspective on terrorism?

● What steps must be taken to confront the humanitarian and displacement crisis

in a short term?

● How much responsibility and authority do UN bodies such as the CTED and the

SC hold in enacting counter-terrorism policy in Nigeria?

● What actions can the CTED undertake to improve economic stability and

promote government transparency in Nigeria?