Venezuelan Indigenous Against Illegal Mining http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/april/28/latinamerica10042803.htm

Venezuelan Indigenous backed the military operation triggered by the government in the Caura River basin to prevent and put a curb on the illegal mining, a practice that has caused severe environmental damage in the area. According to Deputy José Poyo, the communities in that part of the state of Bolivar have been victims of deforestation, river pollution by mercury used for the poaching gold exploitation and the encroachment of their habitat.

About 4.000 people have been affected by the impact of the presence of domestic and foreign miners, said at a news conference.The also president of the Indigenous Parliament of America called on residents in the basin of Caura to accompany the armed forces to combat illegal mining.

The troops sent to the area need support, because it is very difficult to control an area of 4 million hectares, stated to Prensa Latina.It is about helping with the habitat protection, the national sovereignty and the natural resources of Venezuela, he said.To Poyo, in addition to the military action, it is needed to enhance monitoring mechanisms to the phenomenon in the National Assembly as well as spaces in which the government and the communities interact in this regard.