One Killed in Venezuela Illegal Mining Clash: Defense Minister

One Killed in Venezuela Illegal Mining Clash: Defense Minister
Venezuelan Defence Minister, general Vladimir Padrino Lopez, delivers a speech during the launching ceremony of the "Plan Republica", the security operation for the presidential election on May 20, in Caracas, on May 15, 2018. Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images
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CARACAS—A member of Venezuela’s Pemon indigenous group was killed during a “confrontation”  on Dec. 8 with security forces attempting to dislodge an illegal gold mine in southern Bolivar state, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Dec. 11.

It was the latest in a string of violent incidents in the remote jungles of the once-booming OPEC nation, where people are increasingly taking to informal gold mining as the country’s socialist economy unravels and hyperinflation leaves millions struggling to afford basic food items.