Venezuela Cracking Down on Illegal Diamond, Gold Mining
June 20, 05
Venezuelan government forces are launching a crackdown on illegal diamond and gold mining in the southeastern state of Bolivar which is threatening to ruin vast areas of virgin forest and poison rivers.
President Hugo Chavez has replaced the regional National Guard command with strengthened forces, including air force and naval units. Bolivar's National Guard commander General Alberto Betancourt Nieves was fired as part of the changes following claims from small-scale miners that his soldiers demanded extortion payments in gold to let the illegal mining continue.
Representatives of the miners said that while the troopers often destroyed the camps and equipment of small diggers, the larger illegal mining operations were allowed to continue unhindered, leading to suspicions that bribes were paid.
Foreign mining experts have described the situation as in some parts of Bolivar as resembling the Wild West.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Andres Izarra said the illegal mining was leading to 'ecocide' in several areas of Bolivar, including the Amazon rainforest.
The authorities are concerned about illegal operations employing suction barges on rivers which vacuum up river silt to sift it for gold. In addition to stirring up sediments, the barges use large amounts of poisonous mercury, according to mining experts.
Chavez, who says that millions of dollars of diamonds and gold are being smuggled out of
Defense Minister General Jorge Garcia Carneiro said that in addition to army and National Guard troops, the newly created military forces in Bolivar would have air support and launches to patrol borders and rivers. "We're going to get tough in this sector," he said.