Venezuelan miners fear increased State role in gold mining

Small miners, indigenous people and several unions from the south of Bolívar state, southern Venezuela, continue to reject the terms of the decree-law that reserves Gold Exploration and Exploitation to the State. They have staged demonstrations, civic strikes, and filed an action with the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) seeking annulment of such decree-law.

Elan Romero, a miner and spokesperson of the Ikabarú community, said that the decree-law amounts to the "economic death" of the region, where small and medium scale mining is the main source of income.

"The State has always reserved the right to gold exploration and exploitation. It has always been that way; there is no discussion about it. We are actually alarmed and worried about the nationalization of this economic sector," Romero explained.

He stated that all the organizations operating in the municipalities of El Callao, Tumeremo, Gran Sabana, and Santa Elena de Uairén "are afraid of the content of the decree-law that will become effective on December 16."

Under the decree-law, "the State will play an active role in mining activities, thus displacing the people usually involved in the industry, such as miners. The State wants to take over mining in all of its phases and whoever does not comply with those plans -by migrating to joint ventures and becoming a minor partner of the State- will have their assets taken from them. That represents economic death for us."