US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1658

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001658 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2013 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, VE 
SUBJECT: GOV NABS BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE 
CAPRILES RADONSKY 

REF: CARACAS 0950 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B 
) AND (D) 
 
1. (U) BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE CAPRILES RADONSKY 
(PRIMERO JUSTICIA) PRESENTED HIMSELF BEFORE A CARACAS COURT 
MAY 11 TO FACE CHARGES REGARDING HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A 
VIOLENT PROTEST OUTSIDE THE CUBAN EMBASSY ON APRIL 12, 2002 
(REF).  DURING THE HEARING, PROSECUTOR DANILO ANDERSON 
REQUESTED THAT CAPRILES BE REMANDED TO CUSTODY BECAUSE THE 
MAYOR WAS A FLIGHT RISK, WHEREUPON DISIP (POLITICAL POLICE) 
OFFICERS TOOK CAPRILES INTO CUSTODY.  ANDERSON NOW HAS UP TO 
45 DAYS TO PRESENT FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR. 
CAPRILES WILL REMAIN IN DISIP CUSTODY DURING THAT TIME, 
ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS. 
 
2. (C) CAPRILES WENT INTO HIDING WHEN THE FIRST DETENTION 
ORDER FOR HIM WAS ISSUED MARCH 16 AND REEMERGED AFTER THE 
SUPREME COURT (TSJ) STRUCK IT DOWN APRIL 1.  CAPRILES TOLD 
THE AMBASSADOR APRIL 22 THAT HE EXPECTED THE CASE TO RESUME 
UNDER A NEW JUDGE MAY 11.  CAPRILES' ATTORNEY FILED A REQUEST 
TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION OF ANDERSON FOR HAVING DISOBEYED 
THE TSJ DECISION, ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS. 
 
3. (U) SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER CAPRILES' DETENTION MAY 
11, PRIMERO JUSTICIA DEPUTIES JULIO BORGES, LILIANA 
HERNANDEZ, AND GERARDO BLYDE CONDEMNED THE ACTION AND VOWED 
THAT THE MAYOR WOULD BE EXONERATED AND FREED.  "IT'S A 
POLITICAL DECISION FROM A POLITICAL JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR THAT 
    HAVE USED THE VENEZUELAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS A MECHANISM FOR 
POLITICAL REPRESSION, AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A 
DEMOCRATIC STATE," BLYDE SAID. 
 
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COMMENT 
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4. (C) GOV ACTIONS AGAINST CAPRILES SHOW EVERY SIGN OF BEING 
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.  A POPULAR POLITICIAN AND A DETERMINED 
ANTI-CHAVISTA, CAPRILES IS A SIGNIFICANT TARGET FOR CHAVEZ 
SUPPORTERS AS THEY STRIVE TO MAKE INROADS IN LOCAL 
GOVERNMENTS IN THE CAPITAL.  NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THERE IS 
LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE BARUTA MAYOR TRULY WORKED TO CALM THE 
SITUATION AT THE CUBAN EMBASSY IN APRIL 2002, THE GOV IS 
INTENT ON PRESSING THE CHARGES.  SINCE THE FIRST DETENTION 
ORDER WAS ISSUED, PRIMERO JUSTICIA HAS BEEN AIRING TV SPOTS 
SHOWING THE MAYOR INTERVENING TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS, AND THE 
CUBAN AMBASSADOR LATER THANKING CAPRILES FOR HIS EFFORTS.  IN 
THE MEANTIME, CAPRILES WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY.  WHILE THE 
COURTS MAY EVENTUALLY FREE CAPRILES, AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS 
LIKE HE IS A POLITICAL PRISONER. 
SHAPIRO 
 
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      2004CARACA01658 - CONFIDENTIAL