US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1837

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001837 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE:  MAY 27 
 
REF: CARACAS 1799 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, 
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The signature appeals process formally began on May 
27, with armed forces and National Electoral Council (CNE) 
workers mounting the 2,607 appeals centers throughout 
Venezuela (centers will be open to the public May 28-30). 
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel on May 27 characterized an 
editorial by WHA A/S Roger Noriega as an "open, flagrant, and 
deliberate provocation."  Rangel also renewed allegations 
that OAS chief observer Fernando Jaramillo is biased against 
the GOV and issued an ultimatum that either SYG Gaviria 
remove Jaramillo or the OAS observer mission could not 
continue.  Rangel and the armed forces reaffirmed the CNE's 
ban on information centers to be set up near appeals sites. 
The opposition called on the CNE and armed forces to act 
objectively during the appeals, and demanded the right to 
audit appeals materials when centers open to the public.  End 
summary. 
 
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Appeals Process Set-Up Begins 
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2. (U) The five-day period for the signature appeals in the 
recall referendum process against President Hugo Chavez 
formally began on May 27.  National Electoral Council (CNE) 
workers and the armed forces, under its Plan Republica to 
support electoral events, readied the 2,607 appeals centers 
for the three days (May 28-30) in which the centers will be 
open to the public.  The centers are scheduled to open at 6 
a.m. and remain open a total of 12 hours per day (or, on the 
last day, until lines are depleted).  More than 100 
international observers under the auspices of the OAS and 
Carter Center (TCC) deployed around the country. 
 
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GOV Blasts Noriega, OAS Observer 
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3. (U) On May 26, CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez rejected the 
op-ed piece by WHA A/S Roger Noriega accusing the GOV of 
impeding the referendum process.  Rodriguez dismissed the 
comments as "interference from an illegitimate government" 
and countered with allegations of irregularities in the 
election of President Bush.  On May 27, Vice President Jose 
Vicente Rangel excoriated Noriega's piece as an "open, 
flagrant, and deliberate attempt at provocation" and as 
evidence of an imperious policy toward Venezuela and the rest 
of the world.  Rangel, too, questioned the legitimacy of the 
Bush administration and then accused the USG of hypocrisy in 
its human rights policy, showing for reporters the photos of 
abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.  Rangel said the GOV 
plans to complain officially to the Department of State as 
well as via its missions to the OAS and the UN. He also said 
the GOV will not recognize the U.S. as a member of the Group 
of Friends. 
 
4. (U) Rangel also reiterated charges of bias against OAS 
Chief of Staff Fernando Jaramillo.  Rangel linked Jaramilo's 
"highly suspicious" behavior and the Noriega op-ed piece. 
The Vice President said the GOV will not recognize any OAS 
report with Jaramillo's name.  Rangel claimed to have called 
SYG Cesar Gaviria on May 26 after reading the article and 
insisted that Gaviria disassociate himself from Noriega's 
comments and remove Jaramillo immediately.  Rangel said he 
issued the ultimatum that either Jaramillo leave or the OAS 
would not be welcome as international observers.  In press 
reports on May 27, SYG Gaviria expressed his continued 
support for Jaramillo. 
 
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Plan Republica 
 
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5. (U) General Julio Quintero, head of the Unified Military 
Command (CUFAN), told reporters May 26 the armed forces would 
not permit the installation of information centers as banned 
by the CNE May 26.  He said the armed forces would deploy 
45,000 soldiers to support the appeals centers and transport 
the appeals materials under "Plan Republica."  Carter Center 
representative Francisco Diez, however, questioned during a 
press conference May 27 whether the CNE had actually 
prohibited the centers.  Vice President Rangel affirmed that 
information centers would not be permitted.  Coordinadora 
Democratica (CD) advisor Jorge Casado told PolCouns May 22 
that they planned to go ahead with the centers.  In their 
view, the restriction on keeping them indoors was to the 
Coordinadora's advantage because the authorities ostensibly 
would need warrants to enter private premises. 
 
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Opposition Seeks Assurances of Fair Play 
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6. (C) Opposition spokespersons outlined May 27 three demands 
of the GOV during the appeals.  First, the CD wants to be 
able to audit the appeals registers ("cuadernos") when the 
centers open to assure their accuracy as well as to assure 
the quality of the indelible ink used to mark the pinkie 
fingers of those who make appeals.  Second, the CD called 
upon the armed forces to perform their duty and not impede 
opposition efforts to collect the appeals.  Finally, the CD 
asked for the CNE to maintain clear rules of the game, 
especially during the verification stage after the appeals. 
 
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Comment 
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7. (C) The centers of information will probably be the first 
major dispute when the appeals centers open.  The GOV no 
doubt sees the centers as the backbone of the opposition's 
organization for the appeals and wants to eliminate them. 
The CNE did not issue a resolution to decide the matter, but 
it is clear the intention is not to allow the information 
centers.  Rangel's railing against the OAS is a policy of 
bluster.  SYG Gaviria, fortunately, seems to be firm in not 
giving in to it. 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA01837 - CONFIDENTIAL