Posted on 03/23/2005 9:21:55 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Venezuela has declared a huge British-owned cattle ranch to be state property and handed out permits for local farmers to take over the land. The agriculture minister held a ceremony at El Charcote ranch, saying it was officially under state control.
The state governor said 140 permits had been handed out so poor families could start work on the 32,000-acre estate. Agroflora, the local subsidiary of British owner Vestey Group, said it would appeal against the seizure.
The firm's employees are still working on the land. The group has operated the ranch, in central Cojedes state, for decades. But officials said as property documents did not prove the land belonged to the group, it therefore belonged to the state. No compensation The government is taking action against what it calls latifundios, or large rural estates, which it says are lying idle. Vestey denies the land is idle, and says it has complied fully with Venezuelan law.
The firm has been given two months to appeal. It says it has documents proving the ownership of the land back to 1830. The company also says the farm, which employs 300 workers, provides meat solely for the Venezuelan market. 'War to the death' There is no compensation on offer for lands which are deemed to belong to the state. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says many large farms were illegally acquired. If ownership cannot be proved by documents dating back to 1830, the land is liable to be seized. Mr Chavez has vowed to push ahead with a "war to the death against large landed estates, regardless of who the alleged landholders are".
The National Lands Institute has taken steps towards seizing 1.48m acres already this year, it says.
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"Mugabe" Chavez and his Marxist ch*ngaderos..
Weenie Tony's government will, of course, say or do nothing.
How long before Carter says anything to denounce this confiscation? (LOL! No one is holding their breath!)
This plan worked wonders in Zimbabwe, once known as the 'breadbasket of Africa'. Now it's a wasteland where squatters sell dirt and fire wood instead of growing crops.
someone needs to take this commie bastard out before things get even further out of hand!
If Britan doesn't fight for it, they get what they deserve! Nothing but grand theft on world television!
Carter would give them the Panama Canal.
Jimmy, the greatest president of the 20th century by far, says it was a legitimate election and that Chavez is a great man.
I've stated this many times on FR.
This piece of Karter Kommie Krud ships crude to Cuba for free and, of course, charges the US top peso.
Venezuela is our #2 source of crude and I believe we need to take this tin horn dictator out for the sake of our national security.
Of course we will not because we've set a precedent by permitting a bearded weasel to sit 90 miles off our shoreline for over 40 years.
Maybe Chavez will accept a position with Wal-Mart they could use someone like that.
[The company also says the farm, which employs 300 workers, provides meat solely for the Venezuelan market.]
Seeing the economic successes of land take-overs in Africa, farmers raising meat (and providing 300 jobs) for the Venezuelans will be shut down so that Venezuelans can starve too. I think socialists call this "social justice." Everyone is equal--equally destitute.
Lay off Tony. He is standing by our side in Iraq.
Yes, and not only that, but landless blacks and landowning whites were killed in Zimbabwe. Hard to believe, but as horrible as Rhodesia was, Zimbabwe is far worse.
Mr. Chavez,
Does the name "Falkland Islands" ring a bell?
Perhaps they should have talked to the Argentinians about the prospect of claiming British land for their own?
I think he would give them $1Billion if the President would let him. Then Kim Jong Il would have a twin.
Yes, but he is still angry over the 2000 election. Hm. Why is what white American liberals want more important than.... oh, I figured it out.
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