Bolivia-Chile Dispute: International Court of Justice backs Chile on maritime access

World
Europe

03:01

The International Court of Justice in the Hague has ruled in favor of Chile in a lawsuit filed by Bolivia over access to the Pacific Ocean. It's a feud dating back to the late 19th Century. CGTN's Dan Collyns explains.

When the international court judges ruled 12 to three in favor of Chile, it took a moment to sink in.

Huge crowds had come to downtown La Paz to watch the decision on a big screen:

DAN COLLYNS LA PAZ "After such high hopes, there's disappointment and defiance here in La Paz's main square where hundreds of Bolivians gathered for the International court ruling. But many now are saying this battle may be lost but the war to reclaim Bolivia's sea continues."

The ruling, five years in the making, states that Chile is not obligated to negotiate granting Bolivia sovereign access to the sea. And it's a binding decision, not open to appeal.

SAUL ESTACA BOLIVIAN SEA ACCESS ACTIVIST "It makes all Bolivians sad, especially the young. The youth are the ones who dream of a sea but this decision hurts our heart. But we're not going to give up. Bolivia wants its sea and sooner or later Bolivia will have its sea."

FABIOLA ALMANZA BOLIVIAN SEA ACCESS ACTIVIST "We have always known that taking the maritime demand to the international court of the Hague was an option but there are other paths we can take. What we must recognize is Evo Morales' leadership in putting this on an international level so the whole world can see the injustice done to Bolivia."

Visibly somber, Bolivia's President Evo Morales - who was at the Hague - said Bolivia would continue to seek dialogue with Chile.

EVO MORALES BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT "Bolivia will never give up its maritime demand. The Bolivian people and the people of the world know that through an invasion our sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean was snatched away."

The 135-year-old dispute began when Bolivia lost its 400km coastline to Chile in a war that ended in 1884. Chile says the borders were settled in a 1904 peace treaty. And its president, Sebastian Pinera said Morales had built up false hope with an unwinnable lawsuit.

SEBASTIAN PINERA CHILEAN PRESIDENT "The demand by Bolivia's government had no foundation, neither historical, political or legal, and that is why it was categorically rejected today by the International Court of Justice."

While the ruling was a clear victory for Chile, it didn't rule out future dialogue if both sides are willing. But for two countries that have not had full diplomatic relations in 40 years - genial discussions seem very unlikely - any time soon. Dan Collyns, CGTN, La Paz.