Indigenous denouncing illegal mining before National Assembly
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Members of the community Yekwana recorded a text containing his remarks, which included the alleged involvement of army officers involved in these actions



Press Conference on Indigenous Federation Within the National Assembly and with the presence of the Minister of Environment and the deputy and president of the Indigenous Parliament of America (PIA), Jose Poyo; members of the Indigenous Organization of the Caura River Basin ( Kuyujani) presented a detailed report on a new invasion of illegal miners in the Upper Caura, Sucre municipality in the state of Bolivar.

In the written chronologically indigenous representatives explained how it happened penetration of nearly 500 people from Maripa, Temblador, Las Majadas, Guarataro, among other locations in the town and those who work currently being carried mining Yuruani water in the river, with the alleged participation of military and indigenous established in Maripa, capital of the jurisdiction.

Arturo Rodriguez, general coordinator of Kuyujani at press conference in the morning hours yesterday on the premises of the Indigenous Federation of Bolivar, explained that since 30 March last year have noted the presence of non-indigenous people practicing mining in the Caura. At that time the complaint was established at the Third Prosecution environmental competition with the state.

Military implicated

The general coordinator of Kuyujani denounced the complicity of troops on the facts, noting time an officer has been identified as Lieutenant Manuel Zerpa of TO5, who has been involved in various events that presume a relationship with miners and traders Maripa.

The indigenous leaders told that the September 28, 2007, Lieutenant Manuel Zerpa was submitted to a checkpoint set up in the military sector El Playón; be reporting on orders from his superior to move magazines, as well as take a photograph of the purported mine . The general coordinator of Kuyujani mentioned that at that time it seemed strange to two facts, "the officer refused to be escorted by military officials indigenous, and then embarked on the journey in civilian dress and accompanied only by the owner of The Station The Maripeña, and a radio announcer of that. "

The report accuses the Yekwanas Zerpa to authorize the dispatch of fuel to the illegal miners and order aggression and deliver a death threat against an Indian military officer established in the post Payón, who complained to his superior for violating the rules of the military exercise, as presented in civilian clothing to work and have led to two people not related to the military's alleged role inspection conducted on September 28.

Arturo Rodriguez reported the existence of a military post in El Playón, and there the military has allowed the spread of miners default functions, "the military unit does not conduct constant patrol in the area only stays invested in the post, they (the military) not doing anything about it, they say they have no part of the higher order. "

Good expectations

The representatives of indigenous communities Yekwana and Sanema, coming from the affected areas, call upon the military authorities at both the regional and national thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of the Army component in the penetration of miners to the area.

Arturo Rodriguez clarified "recognize that the job is a human right and as such we respect, but it must be exercised with responsibility, because the consequences of this practice threaten the rights that we all have to have a healthy environment, clean water, security, tranquillity and living in harmony that we have the Yekwana and Sanema who live there. "

Finally the coordinator General Kuyujani said that the meeting held in the National Assembly, awaiting action in the coming days "could qualify the meeting as successful, both as deputy minister pledged to order an immediate solution to the conflict."

Zero mining

Representatives of indigenous peoples Yekwana and Sanema, requested through their representatives early intervention by the authorities, and called on all members of these communities to develop an effective strategy to control, to be coordinated with the organization Kuyujani, Ombudsman's Office and Attorney Third with competition in the Environment.

The leaders warned about the serious consequences that this practice generates in the environment and recalled that the area is protected under the Caura figure Areas Under Special Administrative Regime (ABRAE). Press community Yekwana