US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1561

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001561 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, PTER, MASS, VE 
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN VP RANGEL ON BILATERAL RELATIONS 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES S. SHAPIRO FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) 
and (d) 
 
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  SUMMARY 
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1. (C)  The Ambassador met May 12 with VP Rangel and the 
FonMin Perez to complain about GOV hostility towards the US, 
including recent statements, the search of the Embassy 
warehouse, and the removal of the MILGP from Ven bases.  He 
reiterated our total rejection of extraconstitutional actions 
against the GOV.  Rangel blamed the US for always criticizing 
the GOV; apologized for the warehouse search; and reaffirmed 
the decision to move the MILGP.  He expressed frustration 
with the statements and actions of opposition figures in the 
US; concern about the paramilitary threat; and reiterated 
that the GOV believed that the GOV, and the Ambassador, were 
involved in the April 2002 coup attempt.  End Summary. 
 
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 GOV POLICY TO ATTACK THE US 
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2.  (C)  The Ambassador met May 12 with Vice President Jose 
Vicente Rangel and Foreign Minister Jesus Perez.  DCM also 
attended.  The Ambassador detailed US concerns about 
bilateral relations and recent allegations that the US 
supported alleged coup plotting: 
 
--The GOV's decision to constantly attack the USG, since at 
least August 2003, including personal attacks against the 
President, the Secretary, and National Security Adviser Rice. 
 
--The statements just May 11 by the GOV's ombudsman, German 
Mundarain, that accused the State Department of involvement 
with the alleged coup conspiracy of the 100 plus arrested 
Colombians; 
 
--The illegal May 10 search by the Guardia Nacional (GN) of 
the US Embassy warehouse.  We are particularly concerned by 
statements by the lawyer of the warehouse owner that the GN 
Major specifically asked which warehouse was the US Embassy's 
so he could search it; and 
 
--The May 7 letter from MOD Garcia Corneiro giving the DATT a 
deadline of May 30 for the MILGP to vacate all Venezuela 
military installations. 
 
3. (C) Regarding the 100 plus alleged "paramilitaries" that 
the GOV has detained, and whom the GOV claims are linked to 
the Coordinadora (CD) and others in the opposition, the 
Ambassador stressed that the US firmly supports democracy, 
and rejects any extraconstitutional actions in Venezuela.  In 
terms of the Colombian paramilitary groups, the US has done 
more than any other country besides Colombia to oppose them. 
We consider such groups to be terrorists, just like the FARC, 
and we are seeking the extradition of their leaders on 
narcotics charges.  We have no information on the persons 
just captured by the GOV; should there be any link between 
them and persons in the US, the US would cooperate in the 
investigation if the GOV so requested. 
 
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 RANGEL: "WE DON'T ATTACK BUT MERELY COUNTERATTACK" 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
4.  (C)  Rangel responded in a sweeping fashion that the GOV 
had never attacked the US, but rather had counterattacked. 
There were continuous statements by USG officials that 
criticized the GOV and put in doubt its legitimacy, and the 
GOV would not be silent.  "We are a small country, but we 
have our dignity." Most recently, during the Interamerican 
Press Society meeting, A/S Noriega had sharply criticized the 
GOV.  Florida Governor Bush just did the same.  It was 
possible that there had been some exaggerations (by the GOV, 
Rangel implied), but in almost every case the US started the 
argument.  Rangel said he had suggested to the US that both 
countries put aside their microphones, but the US had not 
done so.  If the US made up information linking the GOV to 
the FARC, the GOV would respond.  If Senator Nelson attacked 
the GOV, GOV Deputy Tarek Saab would return the favor. 
 
5.  (C)  Regarding possible cooperation in the GOV 
investigation of the Colombians, Rangel expressed 
appreciation, and said that the DISIP (secret police) and DIM 
(military intelligence) would share information with US 
agencies. 
 
6.  (C)  On the warehouse search, Rangel said he would 
 
reiterate -- he did so twice -- Venezuela Ambassador to the 
US Alvarez' apologies to DAS Deshazo for the search.  He 
insisted that the GN did not know that the warehouse was 
occupied by the US Embassy; had it known, it would not have 
searched it. (Note:  However, when the GN were told this by 
warehouse employees, they went ahead anyway and searched the 
place.) 
 
7.  (C)  Rangel said that the GOV was not saying that there 
was a link between the USG and the "paramilitaries" that the 
GOV had captured (Note: One hour later, President Chavez said 
there was a "vast international conspiracy" to overthrow the 
GOV to control Venezuelan oil.)  But it was a fact that 
accused coup plotter Roberto Alonso was in the US and made 
statements with impunity.  Carlos Ortega and Carlos Fernandez 
(leaders of the 2002 paro) and journalist Patricia Poleo went 
to Miami to lead marches against Chavez.  The Ambassador 
interrupted that in the US., visitors also had freedom of 
speech,  these individuals had not committed crimes in the 
US., and the GOV had not sought their extradition.  Rangel 
said that it was fine for the US to say that it does not 
approve of extraconstitutional activity -- "but you know that 
the US was involved in the April 2002 coup, members of the US 
military group were involved, and we will soon reveal the 
proof that you personally and the USG were involved."  The 
Ambassador rejected this categorically; Rangel threatened 
that the GOV would reveal its proof as the US had requested. 
 
8.  (C)  Rangel said that the removal of the MILGP from 
Venezuelan military bases was based on the need to use the 
space on these bases for other purposes.  When he was MOD, he 
ordered the MILGP off Venezuelan facilities but the orders 
had never been executed.  He said he believed it 
inappropriate for any country's military to be housed on 
Venezuelan facilities.  The Ambassador stated that the 
Venezuelan military had  similar space on three US military 
bases; Rangel said that the situations were different, the 
Venezuelans had no space in the equivalent to Fuerte Tiuna, 
which would be the Pentagon.  In any case, when US generals 
such as Gen. Hill and Gen. Meyer openly criticized President 
Chavez, it is inappropriate to have US military on Venezuelan 
bases. 
 
9.  (C)  Rangel said he understood the US had a very clear 
position on the "paramilitaries;" so did the GOV.  He said 
there were some 1,000 Colombian paramilitaries in the border 
area; the 130 captured so far were just the "tip of the 
iceberg."  Those captured included some 20 whose ID cards 
from Colombia said "reservist" or "professional soldier." 
Powerful economic interests (Rangel did not elaborate when 
asked) were behind this paramilitary effort, as were retired 
and active duty Venezuelan military officers.  Perez 
interjected that the GOV remained concerned -- as he had 
noted previously to the Ambassador -- about Venezuelans in 
Miami who were plotting against the GOV;  Rangel wound up by 
stating that the GOV sought "serious relations" with the US. 
The GOV would not accept anything else.  If there had to be 
permanent controversy between the two countries, so be it -- 
but the GOV was not locked into this position. 
 
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 COMMENT 
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10.  (C)  Rangel was fairly wound up and insulting -- and yet 
was more restrained than President Chavez was in his 
subsequent TV speech on national security (septel). 
Predictably, he was firm on the decision to remove the MILGP 
from Fuerte Tiuna; he was apologetic about the search of the 
Embassy warehouse -- but we still think the GOV at some level 
carried out this action deliberately.  Rangel appeared both 
energized and enthusiastic about pursuing the "paramilitary" 
issue, as is Chavez.  Much of Rangel's presentation followed 
the same points -- even used the same "tip of the iceberg" 
language -- that Chavez used in his speech one hour later. 
 
11.  (C)  We do not have enough information about the 
supposed paramilitaries.  Clearly, they are not Boy Scouts 
and we should not dismiss the GOV claims out of hand.  There 
is at least one victim supposedly executed by these 
"paramilitaries".  Our working hypothesis is that they may 
well be Colombian campesinos hired for an illegal purpose 
here.  But the timing is too good to be true for the GOV. 
They are certainly using it as a pretext to round up enemies 
and are flagging the paramilitaries as "proof" of US and 
Colombian plans to destabilize Venezuela.  In this 
environment reparos have been relegated to minor news. 
Rumors are once again circulating that the GOV is planning to 
 
declare a State of Emergency. 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA01561 - CONFIDENTIAL