Venezuela: the Ye'kuana and Sanema indigenous peoples appeal to Caracas for the immediate suspension of illegal mining in the Caura and the legal recognition of their territory

The Ye'kuana and Sanema peoples of the Caura River, a major affluent of the Orinoco, have launched a renewed campaign for recognition of their lands rights and for the expulsion of illegal miners operating in their territory. They are insisting that their demands are in exact conformity with the Constitution and national laws on indigenous rights and the demarcation of indigenous lands and 'habitats' (as indigenous territories are known in Venezuelan law). Their move has been provoked by Government moves to impose yet another ineffective 'protected area' designation on the river basin (there are already six) and the lack of remedial action by the Government in the light of studies which show that levels of mercury poisoning due to gold mining in their own bodies is way above safe levels.    Read TalCualDigital.com article (in Spanish only)