2008-07-13 22:51:06 - In weekend reports, Venezuela's Bolivarian News Agency (ABN) says a multidisciplinary Parliamentary Commission from the country's congress -- National Assembly (AN) -- is to urgently investigate the illegal extraction of minerals in southeastern Bolivar State.

VHeadlineVenezuela News reports:

Energy & Mines Committee vice president Jesus Ernesto Graterol says illegal mining activities associated with the search for gold and precious stones is "causing great damage to the whole environmental system of Venezuela" and that gold and diamond exploitation is seriously affecting tributaries of the Rio Caroni where besides the illegal operations, there are multinational companies that have

been operating in the region for a long time without any care for the region's sensitive environment.

Graterol says environmental protection is not a priority concern to small-scale and artesanal miners since it is so expensive but that the central govenrment is greatly concerned because mercury contamination is affecting not only the miners thermselves but also the indigenous rainforest indian tribespeople.

The to research the problems and to seek immediate solutions to what is seen as an environmental crisis. Graterol says he believes that illegal mining can no longer be tolerated but also warns that mining activities should not be completely abandoned. "Quite simply we have to grasp the hot potato and get on with implementing permanent measures 'I think that we can not give you longer to the exploitation of illegal mining, but cautioned that neither can abandon the mining and quit to become a sort of vague or offender.

'I think that everyone must submit formulas to try to resolve the problem other than with' cloth hot 'but with permanent measures without affecting the environment ... it is essential that we should involve indigenous peoples' representatives so that they can maintain and establish economic activities while remaining true to their culture ... this is a social, environmental, ecological and sovereignty problem that we have to resolve."

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