This document represents a synthesis of the most important arguments and motivations put forward by the indigenous, peasant and urban Venezuelan populations who will be affected by any changes in the fragile ecological equilibrium that is still found in the Mountains of Perija located in the west of Venezuela.

The intention of this essay is twofold. Firstly, to demonstrate in an unequivocal way that the newly created Movement for the Defence of Perija is of the position that the Yukpa and Bari indigenous communities are the rightful owners of the land, as they have been the traditional inhabitants of this territory for thousands of years. Secondly, to contrast the ideas and actions of those in charge of development programmes which aim to exploit both oil and coal within Perija with the position of those of us who live near the mountains and who will suffer the social and ecological consequences of these mineral activities.

For thousands of years, the Perija Mountains have been the traditional area occupied by two indigenous groups: the Bari (of Chibcha ascendancy) and the Yukpa (descendants of the Caribs). The movement of the Bari started approximately 3000 years B.C. and successfully settled in about 33,500 sq.km., occupying a territory that went from Pamplona (Colombia) to the Chama river in what is today Venezuela. At present, this ethnic group forms just 67 communities, and have seen their domains reduced to no more than 2,000 sq.km., which corresponds to 6% of their original territory.

The Yukpas, whose survival depends on traditional activities such as agriculture, fishing, hunting and craft, occupy territories on both side of the frontier between Colombia (Valledeupar Mountains) and Venezuela (the Perija Mountains).

For the Zulia State, where the mountains are located, Perija constitutes the most important water reserve. This importance rests on the fact that 50% of the rivers feeding Lake Maracaibo originate in it. In addition, the mountains have an underground water network and an extensive cave system found nowhere else in Venezuela. Due to the coexistence of a natural system combining a rich diversity of biomas and different climates such as dry, humid and very humid, together with low pre-montane, humid pre-montane and the cold conditions associated with the "paramo", the Perija mountains have an extraordinarily rich biodiversity, which overall is of great regional and national importance. In 1978, and in recognition of this character of biological reserve, almost 300 thousand hectares of Perija were given the special protection of a National Park.

Almost half of the 1,300 bird species that live in Venezuela can be found in the Perija Mountains. It is also the natural habitat of endangered species such as the spectacled bear, curassow, tapir, jaguar, the Andean condor, coastal caiman etc. Migratory birds make a home of these mountains on their journey from North America and other continents. In addition to endemic flora and fauna, this mountain range is also a refuge for an abundance of mammals, representing half the orders found in the world. This unique and grandiose world was recently the subject of much publicity, when researchers from Zulia University found 14 new species during an exploration of the lower floors of the forests. What lies in the middle and high floors of the mountains remains a mystery to science.

Finally, the Perija Mountains also have a strategic geopolitical and geo-economic importance due to a wealth of fossils and minerals lying buried in the soil, among them oil, coal, bauxite, gold, tungsten, manganese, zinc, copper and uranium.

The present population of indigenous Bari are the descendants of a proud and brave group of aboriginals who for over 200 years fought the Spaniards and successfully stopped them from using their territories. It was not until 1872, and at great human cost, that the Bari were subdued and gradually transformed through the impact of religious missions.

It was not until the late 1920s that a new cycle of violence coincided with the arrival of Shell. This company became the owner of large areas of land which it used to establish its oil camps. Using brutal methods, the company pushed the indigenous people away from their roads. As a result, the oil camps were fenced with electric wire, the indigenous communities became the target of air attacks whilst streams and rivers were poisoned.

Towards the end of 1940s another harsh attack was launched against the Bari, this time by cattle ranchers who were seeking to convert the magnificent forests into "haciendas", pushing out the Bari with violence, and forcing them to move to the upper reaches of the mountains.

In just four decades and under pressure from oil companies and cattle ranchers, the Bari population has been reduced by 40%, descending to roughly 1520 people. Together with the Yukpas, the indigenous population of Perija has been estimated at about 6,693 inhabitants, that is without including internal migration from the Wuayuu people who live in the area known as Goajira which is located to the north of the mountain.

Today, and as a result of decades of unprovoked and relentless attack, the Bari communities are cornered in small areas within the big haciendas. Here, the portions of land they occupy are so meagre that most of them do not even reach half a hectare. In this way, they have become marginal within their own territory.

The aggression and periodic invasions carried out by cattle ranchers who are the landowners has taken on a new dimension in the light of the new mining and oil plans announced by the national government.

In 1992 the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) revealed its plans to give out 800 mining concessions, representing a little less than two million hectares of land considered the traditional habitat of indigenous people. About 72 % of these concessions are for gold and diamond production, whilst coal represents only 14% and the rest corresponds to a substantial number of minerals which include manganese, bauxite and copper to name just a few. These plans represent a fundamental problem for the Perija Mountains, as conservative figures have estimated that more than 160 thousand hectares will be affected by coal projects, and 40 thousand more have been ear-marked for the working of precious minerals such as gold.

Companies such as Maicca, Consulminca and Carboca will participate in the coal exploitation programmes. Maicca is presently negotiating the start of its operations, and the activities of other companies such as Tomen Corporation, Energy Resources Inc. and Keystone Corporation depend on the outcome.

The great majority of concessions are awaiting allocation by Corpozulia (Developmental Regional Corporation for Zulia), a para-statal institution which keeps 10% of the payment received from the corporations for regional investment. However, this link is also responsible for its vested interest in ensuring that the mining exploitation of the Perija Mountains takes priority.

Maraven, a subsidiary of PDVSA, has given an oil concession to Tecpetrol (from Argentina) in the area known as "Rio de Oro" (River of Gold), which corresponds to territory occupied by the Bari community of Bokshi.

The truth is that mining is a reality. Almost the entire Perija mountain range has been subjected to seismological exploration, and the identification of the areas that will be worked has already taken place. Mining projects for coal will be located within areas which due to their ecological importance had been designated as protected areas, benefiting under the legal figure of ABRAE (that is, areas under special protective systems). Six of these ABRAE, which are important to the ecological equilibrium of the region, are currently threatened by coal developments: two National Parks, the "Juan Manuel" and the "Perija", as well as the water reserves of Lake Maracaibo, the Buffer Zone protecting the Perija Mountains, the protective forests of the River Aricuaiza and the wildlife reserve "Manuel de Aguas Claras y Aguas Negras".

Public attention has concentrated on the human and ecological consequences of these mining developments. A wave of protest from all sectors of the civil society has shaken the region. There is widespread concern about the deforestation and soil degradation associated with mining, as well as the silting of rivers, the excavation of gigantic tunnels, the presence of microscopic particles of coal in rivers and soil, and many more consequences of mining which will destroy the natural ecosystems and the livelihood of traditional communities.

The attack on the Bari and Yukpa communities perpetrated by the oil and mining companies with the blessing of the Venezuelan government has all the characteristics of a geno-ethnic cleansing. Further-more, the impact of mining on the well-being of rural communities dedicated to traditional activities represents the final step on a long road to destruction.