British company fights for Venezuelan ranch

Ireland Online ^ | Jan. 5, 2004 | Staff

[Kitten Festival]

A cattle ranch that Venezuela’s government has targeted for expropriation under a land reform programme.

Agroflora, a Vestey Venezuelan subsidiary, said it can prove rightful ownership of the El Charcote ranch in western Venezuela.

Under a Land Law enacted by President Hugo Chavez in 2001, the government can seize land if it deems property is not being used productively for agriculture or was obtained illegally.

Eliezer Otaiza, director of the National Land Institute, said the ranch sits on land previously owned by the government and Vestey has failed to prove it legally acquired all the land.

[Kitten Festival]

Note the Orwellian details about imposing a 'production plan' on this farm.

[bikerman]

Maybe they should contact Wal-Mart for a few pointers on how to seize property.

[marron]

Eliezer Otaiza, director of the National Land Institute, said the ranch sits on land previously owned by the government and Vestey has failed to prove it legally acquired all the land.

The government only claims to (possibly) own a small part of the property, but based on that they are seizing the entire ranch.

[Leo Carpathian]

It's not stealing, it's nationalizing! Long live comrade Stalin!