Nefasto way for the conversion mining
Thursday, 14 2008
In June this year marks two years of the 4633 decree, then known as conversion mining, ordering-within one year-censoring their operators' illegal 'minerals and offer alternative life.

Natalie Garcia


Mining has underpinned the entity and employs thousands of people directly or indirectly Conversion mining, which brought so much hope to the people of the region, he stayed in pledges judging by the results obtained and the hundreds of complaints of abuses by the strength of the theatre of operations Number 5 (TO5), who have carried out several actions against operators of minerals that are illegal in areas of Bolivar state.

  At first the famous Decree 4633 (June, 2006) ordering the one-year period for censoring the operators of minerals and offer alternatives of life, such as engage in tourism, gave encouragement to those who wanted to seek a better way of life. However, things did not go as expected and no one took into account the real social tragedy that these people living in their communities, nor the impact of this transformation that is aspired to make overnight.

  Some think that all this was badly needed by environmental disasters that carries with it the exploitation of gold and diamond. The military, accused of exceeding their procedures, claiming that meet higher orders issued two years ago by the Criminal Courts II and Third Control Ciudad Bolivar, and that is why we have entered the areas to carry out evictions unfortunate that the 2006 killed six people, four and two indigenous miners in the mine Papelón The municipality of Turumbán Raul Leoni. Not counting the fishermen who also died for this cause, and who also perished in Maripa four miners drowned fleeing from the military onslaught.

Opinions Found
  Certainly ecological devastation is alarming but what miners do as much or more damage to nature that concessions? Is the government has taken in this matter to monitor these legal and put an end to their actions against the environment?, And these Many other questions have not been answered in practice by government agencies.

  For the head of the Theater of Operations No. 5, the army general Jose Gregorio Montilla Pantoja, it is safeguarding the environment and reserves of the hydrographic basin of the rivers Paragua, the main tributary of the Caroní, whose waters move the turbines of the dams hydropower in the country, generating more than half of the energy consumed by Venezuelans and part of Brazil.

Fighting crime
  In an interview granted by the chief executive of the team Mail Caroní, he said that by his troops have committed atrocities not only compliance with the rule "authority" and due process to ensure human rights injured.

  Regarding the recent situation in El Chiguao and El Granzón, The Umbrella, said his duty was to combat illegal mining is in the state, this being one of the firm aims to meet while in office.

  "I go by illegal mining that is what I am responsible, legal-concessions-I do not correspond at Chiguao we did was eliminate predation that the miners were in the jungle, got from there to many foreigners, 55 were unused hydraulic motors, 3 tracks clandestine, 210 huts, 31 washing machines of material, 3 thousand meters of plastic hose, 5 and 25 power plants that are places where petty corruption is practiced prostitution, homosexuality, drugs and the sale of liquor " .

  Montilla Pantoja recurring comment was that the majority of workers in these mines were foreigners coming from Brazil, Colombia and Guyana, therefore felt indignant because they were outsiders who wore wealth without prior leave anything to Venezuelan State, despite committing real environmental disasters.

  When trying to find some explanation about alleged abuses by the military indicated that in such situations it is necessary to "impose the authority" to take control, however denied that the representatives of TO5 use C4 explosive near the miners, "it we use it to cripple the machines but taking into account all security measures to be taken, at no time was used for the houses, that did not happen. "

Apegado the law
  With respect to violations of human rights, the general said that respected all the constitutional privileges and became well-known as a humanitarian operation for the departure of all miners with their belongings without any violence to achieve it.

  For their part, the affected totally different from this version on several occasions since the troops were expressing camp until the imminent eviction by the media that were. The threats were not made to wait and there were too many tensions that reached its peak on January 30 when a group of more than a hundred soldiers, backed by the Special Forces Battalion (BAFE), raided the area taking their step humble homes of the villagers, many of whom were literally on the street as if some indigent dealing.

  The reality is far from the duty to be in regard to the treatment of troops to the military evicted and the environmental stewardship of the sites, because right next to The Chiguao are several concessions that have destroyed a large area, despite that the Ministry of People's Power for Environment, which is responsible for inspecting relevant concessions and everything to harm nature, but if they try to Areas Under Special Administrative Regime (ABRAE), it seems to be turning a blind eye to focus its fight against petty mining.

  It is bring up Article 127 of the current Constitution, "is a right and a duty of each generation to protect and maintain the environment for the benefit of itself and the future world ... The State shall protect the environment, biodiversity, national parks and other areas of special ecological importance. "

    There failed, was delayed

  The issue of conversion covers many aspects: Too many injuries and few solutions, taking into account that Bolivar is the entity mining par excellence, and almost everything depends on this activity either metallic and non-metallic mining, little has been done towards improving conditions for workers. Meanwhile the bodies responsible invoking various excuses to avoid admitting failure painful.

  At least that's the position of deputy for Bolivar to the National Assembly, Angel Marcano, president of the subcommittee of this body of mine, who contends that "the conversion mine did not fail, was delayed."

  For this leader entire process of change towards different activities away from mineral extraction has to be gradual because it is not easy for the government to get rid of all that mining culture dividends generated by the many sectors that are benefiting.

  However, he said that even knowing the illegality of the miners-The Chiguao-case disaster should not be justification for the alleged abuses. But although many weigh allegations against TO5 the subcommittee mine has yet to be moved to accommodate the injured, as almost always leaving everything to drift.