Indigenous yekuana warn about penetration of illegal mining in Upper Caura
ABN 29/02/2008

 
Ciudad Bolivar, February 29. ABN .- A call to stop the penetration of illegal miners in the forest reserves of the High Caura, southwest of Bolivar state, made this Friday the Federation of Indian state of Bolivar.

In press conference at the headquarters of this institution the president of the Federation, Ítalo Pizarro, noted that about 20 communities of indigenous people Yekuana endangered by the gradual penetration done since last year and a half for more than 600 illegal miners , mostly undocumented Colombian and Brazilian origin.

"We call on the armed forces to enforce the decrees of President Hugo Chavez Frias to bring the illegal miners who destroy the basin Caura, last virgin forest reserves held by the country," said Pizarro.

The indigenous leader recalled that a year and a half ago, there were attacks on the part of illegal miners against indigenous people, in retaliation for an operation by the Armed Forces in which they were evicted about 200 illegal miners in the Upper Caura.

"There is a great danger that these attacks will be repeated against our indigenous brothers, why we call for tighter surveillance in the area," he said.

Acotó that the penetration of illegal miners not only poses a danger to the environment, it also exposes them to diseases and defects not known to them.

He recalled that the High Caura holds the last virgin forests certified in the country and also has the status of Biosphere Reserve, why is not permitted activity logging, mining or agriculture in the area.

"In addition, mining affects the Cuyuní River, a tributary of the river that feeds Caroní downstream to large hydro producing energy consumed by the country, so its sedimentation puts in danger all Venezuelans," said Pizarro.