US embassy cable - 04CARACAS746

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 000746 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, VE 
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ RENEWS ALLEGATIONS OF U.S. PLOTTING 
 
 
Classified By: Stephen G. McFarland, Deputy Chief of Mission, 
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) President Hugo Chavez repudiated international 
criticisms against the GOV for human rights violations and 
undemocratic practices, speaking to the diplomatic corps 
March 5.  DCM attending on behalf of the Ambassador, walked 
out after Chavez reasserted allegations, made most recently 
February 29 that the USG was responsible for the events of 
April 11, 2002, and continues to finance subversive groups in 
Venezuela.  Chavez worked through the figures from the 
National Electoral Council (CNE) that he alleged demonstrated 
his theory of "megafraud" carried out by the opposition.  The 
two-and-a-half hour speech, carried on all broadcast media 
(cadena), is Chavez's attempt to discredit the opposition on 
the on the eve of its major march on March 6, and to counter 
the poor image the GOV has created overseas.  End Summary. 
 
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Chavez Lashes Out At USG 
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2. (U) President Hugo Chavez convened the diplomatic corps 
March 5 for a two-and-a-half hour speech to "clear up 
confusion" that other countries might have had regarding the 
political situation in Venezuela.  The address was nationally 
broadcast obligatorily on all Venezuelan television and radio 
stations.  Chavez began with renewed accusations that the USG 
planned the April 2002 alleged coup attempt.  He reiterated 
allegations that the U.S. had warships at the ready and 
attack helicopters at the airport to carry out the coup, 
similar, he said, to what happened to Haitian President 
Aristide.  Chavez said the USG is financing "terrorist" 
groups in Venezuela seeking to destabilize the GOV.  He 
played scenes from the pro-Chavez documentary "The Revolution 
Will Not Be Televised" to make his point.  How long, he 
queried the ambassadors, must we endure this type of 
intervention. 
 
3. (C) After Chavez's wild accusations on February 29 in 
which he said the U.S. is preparing an invasion or blockade 
of Venezuela and threatened to cut off oil, the Ambassador 
chose not to attend and instead sent the DCM with 
instructions to leave if appropriate.  After Chavez attacked 
the U.S., Chavez asserted that the U.S. was currently 
supporting and financing coup plotters.  The DCM stood up, 
looked Chavez in the eye, and walked out without comment. 
 
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Opposition Are The Violent Ones 
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4. (U) Chavez showed photos from the February 27 march and 
subsequent demonstrations showing demonstrators throwing 
rocks and holding slingshots.  He said they also had machine 
guns and heavy weapons, though did not show images of them. 
He accused the opposition of attempting to sabotage the Group 
of 15 Summit on February 27.  After February 27, the 
President charged, the opposition engaged in "foquismo," 
trying to incite an uprising through localized 
demonstrations. 
 
5. (U) Chavez also accused the press of an international 
campaign to discredit Venezuela's human rights' record.  He 
said those in the opposition are coup-plotters dressing up 
like supporters of democracy and human rights.  Chavez 
defended GOV security forces for "fulfilling the role of the 
state in maintaining public order."  He blamed the four 
leading Venezuelan television stations and CNN as accomplices 
in a plot to promote "urban subversion and terrorism."  He 
described what he believed international reaction would be 
when (not if) he closed one or more news media, and then 
lamented he would have to take this step. 
 
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Fraud is Everywhere 
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6. (U) Chavez poured over the National Electoral Council's 
(CNE) preliminary results of the opposition's signature drive 
in support of a recall referendum against him.  He showed 
television spots from the CNE and the NGO Sumate that, he 
said, made clear that all signers must have filled out their 
personal data on the signature forms (Note:  The CNE placed 
876,017 "in observation" for these supposed irregularity.) 
Chavez showed several examples of irregularities in the forms 
such as signatures by minors, foreigners, deceased, and 
errors in filling out the forms.  The President challenged 
the opposition to go to the requisite appeals process, saying 
that he would agree to three days and 2,700 centers for the 
process.  He said he welcomed all international observers to 
watch the appeals, subject to rules laid down by the CNE. 
 
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Comment 
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7. (C) Chavez continued the anti-U.S. message that he took to 
new levels February 29.  His statement about closing 
opposition media coincides with the editorial line of GOV 
daily "Vea," and should be taken as a serious threat.  The 
audio-visual components of the session made this more like 
his weekly television address "Alo, Presidente" rather than 
an address to the diplomatic corps.  Chavez gave his side of 
the story fully, but in doing so it is unlikely he won over 
many members of the diplomatic community.  More likely, by 
maintaining and broadcasting his tough attitude, he is 
signaling that he will not cede on the signatures appeals 
process.  He is also telling all Venezuelans that he will not 
back off from the measures he has been taking against their 
protests.  That said, we believe Chavez remarks reflect 
concern that Venezuela's international reputation has 
declined in the last week.  Chavez may also be worried the 
opposition will gain momentum from the outpouring of 
condemnation for violating human rights and democratic 
practices by international human rights groups and foreign 
press. 
 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA00746 - CONFIDENTIAL