Issue of the day Tuesday 04 March 2008
 
 
CIUDAD BOLIVAR, STATE BOLIVAR, VENEZUELA
 
 
To prevent illegal mining activity in this important area of Bolivar
TO5 continues operational environmental protection in the Upper Caura
 
(Press on the 5th DINFS/TO5. NPC: 11,231). Following complaints made by representatives of indigenous communities belonging to the ethnic Ye'kwana to the office of Commander N'5 Theater of Operations, Brigadier General (EJNB) Jose Gregorio Montilla Pantoja, and continuing military action to preserve natural areas Bolivar State, troops attached to the 522 Infantry Battalion of Jungle "Francisco de Miranda" and Command stationed in the River Population Caicara del Orinoco, conducted operations in the Upper Caura searching for illegal environmental and illegal mining in the area, with the intended to ensure the integrity of these geographical areas and to safeguard this important watershed, which is natural reservoir of Venezuela.
The information was provided by General Montilla Pantoja, who noted that during the procedure were arrested percent and twenty (120) persons which were engaged in illegal mining jobs in that sector. Those citizens were read articles that talk about the crimes they had breached according to the laws in force at all times while preserving human rights, and then be brought to the order of the public prosecutor's office with Environmental competition.
To reinforce and give continuity to these military actions, the commander of TO5 said he moved an operations centre in the town of Maripa Sucre Municipality, a military base where they are coordinating the inspections that are active in the jungle area of this region.
At the forefront of these military operations is Colonel (NBS) Jorge Luis Andrade Gonzalez Inspector of the 5th DINFS, Admiral Luis Galindo, commander of the Command River and Lieutenant Colonel (NBS) Lucidio Vargas Palencia, commander of the 522 Infantry Battalion of Jungle "Francisco de Miranda" who coordinate and oversee the actions of both the strength of this unit tactics and the Special Forces Battalion, which for road days remain in the Upper Caura protecting our environment.
In this respect, he stressed General Montilla Pantoja, that the actions undertaken by the TO5 focus on combating and eradicating illegal mining, as well as avoid depredation of the environment, therefore, continue military operations in the Upper Caura, area that is inhabited by various indigenous communities, who have been their eternal vigilance.
Finally, the Commander of the theatre of operations N § 5 appealed to the people of Bolivar state, to support these actions for the preservation of the Caura High, also called natural sanctuary instead of over 5 thousand hectares, and which is inhabited by indigenous peoples since time immemorial.