Confirmed closing Hecla with the support of their workers
Written by Editorial
Thursday, 22 May 2008

The intervention by the operator of gold was allegedly ordered by the government through high Mibam, corresponding to Minerva take the final decision. Tumeremo .- A group of workers of the company Hecla, confirmed this Wednesday morning the temporary closure of the transnational that came to exploit gold and other materials in the Peru-Chile town of El Callao.
The intervention of Hecla, as stated by the group of men and women who were poised on the outskirts of the company, was allegedly ordered by the government through high Mibam and Minerva that the company allegedly took the final decision.

The company was able to observe a total cessation of its activities and only remained within the same five men who serve as guards to safeguard the facility.

Edward Lopez, who said the company worker be assured that it was seized by the Ministry of Basic Industries and Mining. "A month ago, a group of workers reported a series of abuses that were being committed against us, we were all humiliated reaching the degree of undress and was then that the minister Sanz directs the president of Minerva involving the company. Once it is known that complaint to the company casts relevant ministry, 360 workers were dismissed between men and women we have not received nor basket ticket or wages fallen. "

Without profits

The leader of the unemployed Hecla explained, "all these are posing the nationalization of the company as soon as possible, first by harassment, second violation of human rights and third by the state of insecurity that exists in the mine to the degree of that coworker he broke a leg at caerle a roof above. Moreover we were canceled miserable salaries that only reach 390 bolivars strengths of every 15 months. Also denounce that we have never received a bonus of production despite the fact that Hecla has nearly six years exploiting the gold in our people, "said Lopez.

According to the complainant, "who see the basket ticket charging was very low, or rather by Y or Z are being exploited, humiliated and violated our human rights by this transnational company which wants to be nationalized because Hecla has become a monster that we are being exploited ", culminated, Lopez, while recalling that there are men suffering from lung, herniated disks and other diseases that allegedly occurred within the company.

For its part, Rubi Chirinos, who identified himself as Hecla worker, argued that the way they're proposing is the nationalization of the company, "we want it happens at the hands of the state and that is assumed by CVG Minerva. We demand a statement of the minister Sanz, who already know of this case. The aggressiveness and brutality with which the act guards and other employees against workers have been reported and we hope that through Mibam take appropriate action. This is a company that produces tons and tons of gold and the wages they receive are very low, it is robbing the nation because they say only 20 or 30 grams per tonne and we know that in reality is drawing up a kilo of gold per tonne, "said the affected.

In debt to the community

Meanwhile, Mary Lugo, who said to be representative neighbourhood sector Peru-Chile, where the mine is located callaoense, adding that the community which claims to represent agrees with the intervention of the company Hecla. "We are living in anxiety that we do not know for a fact that is what will happen with this situation that affects workers and the community. I want to denounce Mr. Oscar Moreno Cruz, who keeps us in constant harassment by the use of a transportation company donated to us and he argues that transport is not fulfilling the functions for which was donated and I confirm that the bus if it is complying with the school bus to make the community and other functions. "

Lugo went further and urged the National Executive to take action immediately "and take letters on the matter by that hunger and other needs of the people do not expect, while the company is not who represent us as a community we are prejudiced , Only to see the tracks damaged the company has not complied and jobs promised that the inhabitants of the area are not being met or rather was not met and a proof of this is that last year gave us only temporary employment for 60 people, there are no jobs, no roads or houses ", topped the leader communal sector Peru-Chile.

Another intervention?

Workers at the company Hecla and part of the community showed its intention that the state intervene in this transnational company that operates the gold in El Callao. Some workers who for fear of reprisals did not want to identify themselves denounced abuses by a exDisip named Lozano, who allegedly harassed and mistreated them constantly.

Hecla, becomes the first gold company intervened in the area and as you know Cristallex is also looking at the government for a possible government intervention.