Thank you, New York Times. Without an explainer - the public certainly can't understand this cartoon-level of criminality. (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 year ago by InevitableSwing@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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Archive.today • Menendez Indictment: Why Gold Is an Eye-Popping Part of the Charges - The New York Times

This is funny.

[Menendez] took a keen interest in its value in October 2021, searching online for the worth of a kilogram, the indictment says.

They threw in a dig at Venezuela. Because of course they did.

The illicit use of gold has significant global implications. Venezuela, under strict international sanctions and in economic crisis after years of government mismanagement and corruption, profits from illegal and dangerous mining in a region called the Arco Minero. The Venezuelan government has been reported to have sold hundreds of millions’ worth abroad to finance its programs and pay creditors.

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[-] FuckyWucky@hexbear.net 29 points 1 year ago

The Venezuelan government has been reported to have sold hundreds of millions’ worth abroad to finance its programs and pay creditors.

Oh no, not Government programs and paying creditors. Thats worse than what drug cartels.

Venezuela, under strict international sanctions and in economic crisis after years of government mismanagement and corruption

Yea I wonder if strict international sanctions have anything to do with the economic crisis. They write it as if the two are unrelated.

[-] MaoTheLawn@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago

Bob Menendez literally voted to continue sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba

[-] jonne@infosec.pub 26 points 1 year ago

How is it illegal for a country to mine its own gold resources?

[-] Kuori@hexbear.net 14 points 1 year ago

because that gold, like all resources the world over, is the rightful property of the united states of amerikkka

[-] Krause@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

it goes against the rules-based order /s

[-] MaoTheLawn@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well, the motives of their take are obviously disingenuous, but the illegal aspect is that there are mining syndicates mining illegally with child labour or forced labour.

Allegedly, these groups smuggle while the Venezuelan Government turns a blind eye for a cut of the gold. There are also apparently mines controlled by the ELN, funding guerilla war in Colombia.

The other illegal aspect comes from environmental laws about mercury runoff and deforestation which is happening at a high rate in the Venezuelan mining regions. This also displaces indigenous folk from their lands in many cases.

On mercury runoff and deforestation - a country has a right to its own resources and land. The mercury runoff could potentially fuck them over, and I'm sure it's not good for the workers, but fast gold mining is required for the economy which is being unnecessarily crippled by sanctions. It's mining and deforestation or nation wide instability. I trust that Maduro as an eco-socialist will not let the deforestation get out of hand.

On illegal gangs and the ELN - the ELN is designated as terror group by the Venezuelan Government, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's no underhand deals going on. The military could, and has to some extent, ramped up security and elimination of these gangs, but again, the country is crippled and Maduro would rather spend on social programs than military funding. Perhaps the government does see gold dividends from the illegal mining groups, but crucially, it sends those funds to the people rather than pocketing it for themselves.

On indigenous groups - well, from the original Bolivarian revolution and onwards, no one has treated indigenous folks better than the Bolivars have. The west is in no position to criticize their actions.

A lot of the 'problems' with Venezuela could be solved by undoing the sanctions, really.

[-] Serdan@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

It gets in the way of all Venezuelans literally starving to death.

[-] BabaIsPissed@hexbear.net 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

So this guy has the time to complain about vuvuzela no food but not to provide some context for the indictment, instead linking to a 39 page pdf? And the rest of the article is just factoids about gold?? Western journalists are a fucking disgrace.

Also England ~~stole~~ withheld like 1 billion $ in gold from Venezuela, but I guess that tidbit didn't make the cut