RAQUEL BARREIRO C.

EL UNIVERSAL  

The National Agricultural Commission may dispose immediately of the assets located in ranches Piñero, El Charcote and Borges, without the need for a new ruling by Venezuelan courts, in the event of appeal by ranch representatives, Eliézer Otayza, the president of the National Institute of Lands and a member of the commission, explained.

"We can take immediate action on the assets in the event of redemption of public lands. The organization has immediate availability of the lands. Administrative channels were fully used. This means that no instrument attests to ownership of the property. As a result, the institute will make the appropriate petitions and defend the Republic right. Disposal of the assets to be recovered for the Republic will depend on the actions taken by the National Agricultural Commission."

The National Institute of Lands found that the instruments submitted by the attorneys of ranches El Charcote, Piñero and Borges, located in Cojedes state, are not enough to attest to private property. Therefore, they were declared state property.

According to Otaiza, redemption procedures will depend on President Chávez' decision. "Actions and procedures will be based on the schedule prepared by the commission, to be approved by the President of the Republic. This is the case for ranches Piñero, El Charcote, and others."

The INTI president stated that there would not be expropriation, as these are not private lands. He refrained from stating if the individuals who had claimed ownership of these lands -the Branger family and Agroflora, among others- should pay the state for the use of these lands.

Jaime Pérez Branger, representative of Piñero ranch, announced that they would file any and all petitions to defend the ownership of the lands, AFP reported.

"Yes, we will appear to all appropriate courts under the Constitution to defend our rights."

 Translated by Conchita Delgado