jueves, 4 de junio de 2009

Efectivos de La Fuerza de Defensa (GDF) Roban Campamento Minero en la Guayana Esequiba

Tomado de:
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/news/local/06/04/soldiers-held-after-mining-camp-robbery/


Soldiers held after mining camp robbery


By Stabroek staff June 4, 2009 in Local News



-found with cash, gold

A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer and three ranks who allegedly robbed a mining camp in Region One last week are now in police custody after they were found with a large amount of cash and a quantity of gold in their possession.


According to a release from the GDF the discovery of the cash and gold was made by members of a GDF investigative team who received reports that the ranks had robbed a mining camp at Five Star, Barima/Waini.


The release said that the ranks were handed over to the police who are investigating the crime.Crime Chief Seelall Persaud would only confirm that the army ranks are now in police custody but gave no further details on the robbery. He said the police received the robbery report and informed the GDF.


Stabroek News understands that the report the police received did not indicate that money was stolen at the time of last week Thursday’s robbery.

Residents in the Port Kaituma area yesterday told Stabroek News that it was a Brazilian mining camp that was allegedly robbed by the army ranks. One resident said the ranks are stationed at Mabaruma and he noticed they passed through the area last week and went into the backdam. It was a day later when the owner of the mining camp came out to Port Kaituma and reported the matter to the police station in that village.


Is like dem see is Brazilians and (the attackers) want tek advantage according to what I hear dem tell de people to give three pennyweight a gold,” one resident said adding that he was told that there were some 12 miners working the mining camp.


The GDF release said the men were on patrol in the area when they allegedly committed the act of robbery under arms.

“Preliminary reports indicate that last Thursday one officer and three soldiers allegedly robbed a mining camp in the area. Following searches conducted by a GDF investigative team which interrupted the patrol a quantity of gold and a large amount of cash were found on their person,” the brief release said.


It said the ranks were handed over to the police. The GDF said it “remains totally committed to a transparent and thorough investigation of the incident.”


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Five Star robbery - Soldiers reportedly demanded permits, licences from miners


http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/news/local/06/05/five-star-robbery/comment-page-2/#comments


By Stabroek staff June 5, 2009 in Local News


The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers who are now in police custody following allegations of armed robbery reportedly demanded work permits and licences from miners at a Brazilian mining camp before robbing them of money and gold last Thursday at Five Star, Barima/Waini, Region One.


Reports out of Port Kaituma yesterday indicated that the general manager of the camp travelled to Port Kaituma following the robbery and reported the incident to the station there.


And while police officers have since journeyed into the area Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the Brazilians have indicated that they wanted no further investigations into the matter.


However, the police have received a directive from a senior government official to instruct the detectives to remain in the area and continue the investigation and to bring the Brazilians out so that they can testify against the accused army ranks.



The army in a release on Wednesday, almost one week after the allegation was made, stated that members of a GDF investigative team who had received reports of the robbery allegation intercepted the patrol of one officer and three other ranks and found the gold and cash.


On Wednesday Stabroek News was told that the ranks had demanded three pennyweights of gold each from the Brazilian miners who were 12 in number and so they allegedly made off with some 36 pennyweights of gold.


Sources yesterday told Stabroek News that it is well known that Brazilians would slip through the Port Kaituma village and into the backdam without work permits. The army ranks, who are said to have been stationed at Mabaruma, apparently took advantage of this fact and made demands on the spot and when some of the men were unable to produce the necessary documentation they were then told to hand over the gold and cash. The ranks at the time were said to be armed to the teeth.


Sources in the mining industry yesterday said that it is not the first time such allegations have been made against the armed forces. And while the robbery is not a hot topic in the Port Kaituma village, Stabroek News was told that villagers are not surprised by the allegation as it is not new to them.


As a matter of fact a reliable source pointed out that about four years ago there were similar allegations made against army and police ranks and at least one person who was employed with the Guyana Gold Mining Commission (GGMC). They had reportedly robbed about 200 persons in Pipiani, a village also in Region One that has a lot of mining activities.


The allegations were widely reported and persons had given statements and there was supposed to have been an inquiry but no one was taken before the court. The GGMC employee, who was well known in the Port Kaituma area, had left the country through Brazil and is said to be now in England. A police corporal, whose name was given to this newspaper, was also said to be involved and he was transferred and is now a sergeant in the force. The army ranks who were implicated were also transferred.


‘Not the first time’


GDF Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best yesterday, when asked if allegations of robbery had been made before against army ranks, confirmed that it was not the first time such allegations were made.


“No, it is not the first time we have launched investigations into allegations. It’s not the first time. But it’s the first time that there is so much evidence that suggests that indeed a serious offence has been committed. But we have had some allegations before,” Best told reporters yesterday at the army’s Coast Guard Headquarters.


The Chief of Staff declined to give any further information on the incident as he said that the matter is under investigation.

“They [the ranks] are in police custody and as the matter unfolds whatever action has to be taken would be taken.But there is no further update. They are in police custody and as soon as the police are ready to level charges or not level charges they will inform the GDF,” he said.


Best also refused to say how much gold or money was found on the ranks.

“No I don’t have the facts but gold was found and money was found. But I noticed some investigative journalism that spoke to some quantities which seem reasonable to me but I don’t have the precise numbers,” he said when the question was asked.


He said the army has no say in what happens to the ranks should they be found guilty of robbery under arms.“That’s up to the court. This matter is in the civil arena not with the GDF, it’s up to the court. And whatever offences, whatever time is attached to the offence they are charged with and if they are found guilty then the court will decide. It’s not with the Defence Force any longer,” he said.


The army in their release on Wednesday said: “Preliminary reports indicate that last Thursday one officer and three soldiers allegedly robbed a mining camp in the area.


Following searches conducted by a GDF investigative team which interrupted the patrol a quantity of gold and a large amount of cash were found on their person.”The statement said the GDF “remains totally committed to a transparent and thorough investigation of the incident.”


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Nota del editor del blog: Al referenciarse a la República Cooperativa de Guyana se deben de tener en cuenta los 159.500Km2, de territorios ubicados al oeste del río Esequibo conocidos con el nombre de Guayana Esequiba o Zona en Reclamación sujetos al Acuerdo de Ginebra dl 17 de febrero de 1966.


Territorios estos sobre los cuales el gobierno Venezolano en representación de la Nación venezolana se reservo sus derechos sobre los territorios de la Guayana Esequiba en su nota del 26 de mayo de 1966 al reconocerse al nuevo Estado de Guyana .

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