Venezuela: Bolivar State, Raul Leoni miners reject Basic Industries & Mining (Mibam) ministry "lies"...

VHeadline Venezuela News reports: Angry gold miners from the Raul Leoni township in southern Bolivar State say they are tired of the government's unfulfilled promises and in a spontaneous outbreak of fury, they have hit the streets, hijacking a number of buses, setting fire to tires and barricading access routes in a clear warning to the Chavez government that if they do NOT make payments due for so-called mining conversions, they will collectively punish the government at next Sunday's polls.

More than 6,000 miners were reported to have seized 10 buses at the Venezuelan GUayana Corporation's subsidiary CVG-Venalum while other groups of protesters at CVG-Bauxilum held CVG vice-president Alfredo Arcila and a number of other government officials hostage to press their claims.

Come-lately government administrators had simply informed the miners to come back again on Thursday, igniting widespread fury over incessant long-term delays that have always resulted in even more delays and even more distant promises from central government. Quoted in the regional newspaper Correo del Coroni, Juan Manuel Rojas, one of the miners acting as spokesman, told reporters of the general discontent felt by the miners (many of whom were wearing the government's United Socialist Party of Venezuela-PSUV red shirts and baseball caps) and told of their avowed intent to punish the government by voting against PSUV's candidate in next Sunday's elections.

"We're tired of so many cruel jokes being played on us and deception by government representatives, especially by MIBAM Minister Rodolfo Sanz. "For years the State of Bolivar has been dedicated par excellence to mining ... and now they're trying to change that reality overnight ... we want no more deception, we want our payments NOW!" Rojas said to the applause of hundreds of miners, chanted their demands in the middle of Avenida Libertador just opposite the regional offices of the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mining (Mibam).

After hijacking 10 city buses, the demonstrators turned their attention to a luxury CVG-Venalum coach which they threatened to burn. At this juncture CVG vice president (also CVG-Bauxilum president) Alfredo Arcila gave a commitment that the payments would be made on Thursday, when delivered payments. "We are asking them to wait just two days so that we can bring together the resources to make the payments on Thursday!"

Strike leader Alexander Munoz, however, says the miners will stand their ground ready for any fight, demanding payment before Thursday, since there's no guarantee that they will see the sight of any money before all demonstrations are officially banned in the lead-up to next Sunday's vote ... they're playing games with us and this is just another excuse to delay paying what's due to us!" The miners say that their protest is for their legal right to be paid!

Bolivar State Governor Francisco Rangel Gomez, fighting for his electoral existence against strong opposition from Andres Velasquez, says there's a conspiracy against him between Velasquez and Sifontes Mayoral candidate, Carlos Chancellor. In a radio broadcast, Rangel Gomez said that their aim is to confuse the community when there are only a few days to the election process, and he blames opposition sectors for instigating and manipulating the miners.

VHeadline Venzuela News
vheadline@gmail.com

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