The Miners' Socialist Front The Manteco and National Mining Company signed an agreement for legal exploitation of gold in 5440 hectares. The measure aims to offset the damage to craft workers by state policies that began in 2006.

The letter of intent signed yesterday could be the start of the legalization of the activity in the region. William Urdaneta Photo / File

Natalie Garcia

The Manteco miners who protested the eviction of Parapapoi Supamo areas, yesterday signed a letter of intent with the National Mining Company. The document is just one step to legalize their work in the town Piar and a measure that comes to calm down after the reporting of alleged military abuses committed in the Upper Caura and Arekuna operating.

During the weekend, military officials destroyed camps and businesses within the illegal mine. The action caused much discontent, and led to hundreds of people would take the seat of Rural Detachment 89, located at the entrance of The Manteco.

After some negotiations and complaints, reservoir operators were heard. From there, the intent to prepare a statement of the government, a chance to practice legally mining.

Until now manages about 5440 acres that are suitable for mining supervised manner, which will benefit at least 8,000 miners, according to the Socialist Front The Manteco Miners.

Case against
Since 2005, the current management policy has turned against the small-scale mining. Initially launched Piar Mission to provide technical support to the gold diggers, then came the mining restructuring in 2006, which aimed to transform the mining entrepreneurs and farmers, and then came the turn of the reform of Marketing Gold and its alloys, in 2009, which required the private company to offer most of its production to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV). This was modified, but equally did not solve the underlying problem: that gold was paid to the official exchange rate.

Was also implemented and remains in effect the Plan Caura, for eviction of illegal miners areas. The latest report offered on this operation was the output of 20 thousand people from different fields. Former Defense Minister Henry Rangel Silva, in early 2012, reiterated that the plan was active and deepen in severity from activity outside the law.

Intensification of punishment
Decree In 2011 came the 8413 which reserves to the State the exploration and exploitation of gold, ending the small-scale mining and only allows the association in joint ventures.

The instrument, as an organic law, but was approved via enabling by President Hugo Chavez, requires the participation of private capital in partnerships can have only 49 percent of the shares, if the largest shareholder is the Venezuelan state.

Similarly, the 8413 establishes prison sentences for those caught carrying out his activity, and states that those places where there are strategic minerals and therefore security zones.

Publicly transpired recently that the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) admitted a petition for nullification as unconstitutional against the decree. The request was made by Indian captains, who claim they were not consulted for the realization of this, the content is clear interference in its territory.