MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela seizes a Lord Vestey ranch.

Venezuela confiscated Saturday the first private ranch following President Hugo Chavez's “war” on the oligarchic system of land tenure and to promote the country's agriculture production and food self dependency.

The seizure of El Charcote, in western Cojedes belonging to Agroflora C.A., a subsidiary of Britain's Lord Vestey group, was conducted with the aid of the National Guard and Cojedes state police.

"This is a historic event, one of social justice, marked by total legality. We did not come to expropriate, but to impose order" Cojedes province governor Johnny Yanez told reporters gathered at El Charcote to cover the expropriation.

"The process of distributing land in Cojedes is irreversible" added Mr. Yanez who revealed that the list includes 20 or more similar properties to be seized over the next 90 days. The goal is not to "crush" the right to private property, but "an end to anarchy and provide room to those who need it". If lands seized are not (truly) oversized, owners "will be guaranteed security and the government's full support in developing productivity".

Venezuela's agrarian reform law defines as oversize any estate with more than 5,000 hectares (12,345 acres or some 20 square miles) are idle.

El Charcote 32,000 acres ranch belonged to the Vestey family since 1903 and is used for cattle ranching, though it has been occupied by some squatters in recent years.

A representative of Agroflora C.A., Diana Do Santos, submitted documents to the government that "prove" the company's legal title to El Charcote and expressed hope that Mr. Yanez would give evidence of being "the impartial arbiter that we need".

Apparently a "technical committee" will assess the legal situation but meantime National Guard troops and provincial police will remain in the ranch.

"We've been in Venezuela for just over 100 years and we hope to be there for some time yet", Lord Vestey was quoted by the Financial Times in London.

Venezuelan Ambassador in London Alfredo Toro said the Lord Vestey ranch was among those described as "partly idle" and its property titles were considered not to be in proper order.

Mr. Yanez said the first part of the intervention had been completed, including the introduction of technical committees that will conduct studies of the soil, map out the productive areas and determine the legal boundaries of the estate. Agriculture Minister Arnoldo Marquez said the current policy will make way for a set of regulations that will speed up distribution of idle land among peasants.

But the Venezuelan cattle ranchers' association, Fedenaga last Friday condemned land-expropriation decrees and called on President Chavez to "correct" his land policies. "This is not the right path. If the purpose is to do away with property and institutions, it will mean the loss of peace," said Fedenaga president Jose Luis Betancourt.

The Lord Vestey family made their wealth from the meat trade and is considered one of the richest families in Britain. The current Lord Vestey is a close friend of Prince Charles.

The Lord Vestey group also had significant meat packing investments in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay including his own shipping company the "Blue Star Line". One of the most famous corned beef brands is Fray Bentos, recalling the huge abattoir in Uruguay next to the River Uruguay.