If they can do it on the way up, they have realized they can also do it on the way down. So one can conclude that he and his cronies have been doing everything they can to kill the SP while accumulating dirt cheap shares as discreetly as possible with full understanding that they can't "dangle the carrot" any longer... Why else all the news about relocating the miners, 70%, 50% gold sale law, etc...

IMO this deal will still happen but there will be no word of the permit to the JV until the opportune moment, just like jj says, Hu needs to be in town or vice-versa.. so that Chavez can beat his chest and brag how he saved the day once again...