Miners flee from military abuses
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Hundreds of operators of sites that work in the mines of El Manteco left them in a "rush" to avoid being attacked by army officers who arrived on Friday to track the Middle sector.

Natalie Garcia
Photo William Urdaneta



Hundreds of miners traveled eight hours of trail up to El Manteco, where they were again reviewed by the Army-The Army began Friday, a surprise eviction in the mines of El Manteco, in southern Bolivar state, where many people who previously worked had left La Paragua, when the government mining conversion in 2006.

The military action forced the forced departure of hundreds of miners, as has happened in other parts of the organization following the implementation of the Plan Caura.

Those affected say she had lost everything or almost everything. "What I achieved in three years I lost it in an hour. Who pays me what was there? anyone. I lost like 200 000 bolivars, how I recovered, the government is not going to work, "said Santos Bolivar, who fled from El Limon.

The military came first to track the Middle sector, an hour drive from El Limon, aboard two helicopters, at around 3:00 pm on Friday and it was not until nearly nightfall when informed people should leave.

As the measure was so unexpected people began to ask for explanations, but in vain. "They told us we had five minutes to go, which I'll get the bags and get out of there, before we checked if we had money and gold it off us. In view of this we had to take the road at dawn, some in the Toyota and others on foot, that was horrible, they are 8 hours away by a terrible road to El Manteco "said Jorge Perez.

Mass Escape
The news of the eviction in the Middle Track "spread like wildfire" causing a stampede in the surrounding areas. Those who wanted to save their belongings, transport called 4x4 and left with what they could before the military arrived.

"We came so, there've been only a few things. They told us what was happening and left, because the military threatened to throw lead those were not mine, that was very horrible, and do not understand how they take from us without warning, if many here have permits for fuel, and even is cooperative, "said Armando Muñoz, mining bull."

As people were leaving the Middle Track officials exploited machines with C4, which further frightened the local communities. "I listened as some teams exploded after people came and we had to leave, I take the job because he gave no chance for anything," said Maria Gonzalez, a Colombian national.

Alleged excesses
In addition to material losses miners complain of the abuses to which they are subjected and the alleged abuse of staff. "I took up the portfolio, I left the bag in the cabin where the military came when I realized I only had three sweaters, two pairs of trousers and shoes, the rest was taken away. The portfolio had money and 8 grams of gold, it went away, what they did was a robbery, "said Jose Luna.

The outrage was such that the miners When asked about what happened they said, "That was not an eviction looting almost robbed us." At the checkpoint to access the trail that leads to the mines El Limón, Toro, Tennis Middle and New People could see the arrival of hundreds of people with plastic bags and just a few clothes.

Those who had more luck took the odd bar, chain saws, blowers, and other wax. Despite the mobilization of the miners and the anguish of the families who did not know the status of their loved ones in the Manteco was calm.

Disrespect to the uniform
The arrival of a helicopter at the airport in the town, at 3:00 pm, "was all that disturbed the normal rhythm of the people who went to inquire at the terminal.

Once there, the military reported that all the miners in the area had five hours to leave the fields, otherwise it would ruin everything. In an informal conversation with an Army official asked how the operators were taking deposits, and he replied "the joke ...".

All these the soldiers who came from the committee would not provide details of the operation. The lowest ranking, regardless of the presence of a large number of people, joked and even combs used to be in the backs to play and joke way, referring to how the operators had driven gold.

Mail reportorial team of Caroni witnessed several scenes of this type, while making inquiries for this story. Those who were there commented indignant "how to throw the jokes and stories of what happened no matter what, what nerve, is humiliating."

Ensuring rights

In addition to the miners who lived to be evicted in the fields, arriving at The Manteco had to go through the requisition of the sales tax to El Limon, where they were forced to open the suitcases and bags and remove all the clothes in the middle of street filled with earth.

In situations like this and those that occurred inside suspected mine operators will require the military sites are made by a prosecutor accompany Fundamental Rights and the Ombudsman's Office, thereby ensuring that procedures are adjusted to the legal framework.

"We are miners, but we are also human beings and it seems that they forget the military, every time there's an eviction treat us worse than dogs, with no respect or even the little or much that we have," he said Jose Gomez, evicted from the lemon.

"I took up the portfolio, I left the bag in the cabin where the military came when I realized I only had three sweaters, two pairs of trousers and shoes, the rest was taken away. The portfolio had money and 8 grams of gold, it went away, what they did was a robbery, "Jose Luna.