US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1878

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001878 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, VE, OAS 
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE, JUNE 1 
 
REF: A. CARACAS 1861 
 
     B. CARACAS 1860 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, for Reasons 1.4( 
b) and (d). 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) The Coordinadora Democratica (CD) claimed on June 1 
they had collected 131,000 more signature appeal than needed 
to activate the referendum against President Hugo Chavez. 
National Electoral Council (CNE) Vice President Ezequiel 
Zamora (pro-opposition) denounced on May 31 that the CNE had 
inexplicably stopped tallying results, and only resumed work 
when the delay was discovered.  Former President Jimmy Carter 
and OAS SYG Cesar Gaviria made a surprise visit to the CNE on 
May 31, because they had noticed a lag in information about 
results, drawing threats from CNE President Francisco 
Carrasquero and CNE Director Oscar Battaglini (pro-GOV) they 
would toss out both international observer missions.  Carter 
and Gaviria subsequently met with Chavez, who reassured them 
he would abide by the decision of the CNE.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
CD Briefs Diplomatic Corps 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) The Coordinadora Democratica (CD) briefed the 
diplomatic corps June 1 on the results of the May 28-30 
signature appeals (reparos) for the presidential recall 
referendum.  DCM and poloff attended.  Sumate representative 
Roberto Abdul reported that 750,931 persons confirmed their 
signatures, with 94,745 persons withdrawing their signatures, 
for a net gain of 656,186.  When added to the 1.91 million 
signatures already certified by the National Electoral 
Council (CNE), the number of valid signatures rises to 
2,567,150, or 131,067 in excess of number needed to activate 
the recall vote against President Hugo Chavez.  Abdul said 
they had taken 345 complaints from citizens about aggression 
at the appeals centers, mistreatment by the military, and 
confusing CNE procedures. 
 
---------------------------- 
Zamora Accuses CNE of Delays 
---------------------------- 
 
3. (U) On the evening of May 31, CNE Vice President Ezequiel 
Zamora (pro-opposition) told reporters the CNE had lost a day 
of work adding up the daily tally sheets (actas) due to 
manipulation in the informatics department.  Zamora also 
complained that he had been denied access to information 
about the appeals.  Zamora denied rumors that the CNE had 
developed new instructions to the committee processing the 
actas, and threatened to "rebel" if the CNE generated new 
rules now, after the fact. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Carter and Gaviria Make Surprise Visit 
-------------------------------------- 
 
4. (U) Former President Jimmy Carter and OAS SYG Cesar 
Gaviria arrived at the CNE minutes after Zamora's statement 
and were received by Zamora and fellow opposition Director 
Sobella Mejias.  Carter and Gaviria found idle the offices 
where the actas were supposed to be being tallied.  They told 
reporters they had come to the CNE because they were 
concerned about the lag in information they were receiving 
from the CNE.  Carter subsequently met with President Chavez. 
 Carter told reporters June 1 that Chavez reiterated his 
promise to abide by the CNE's decision.  CNE Director Jorge 
Rodriguez (pro-GOV) appeared before reporters after Carter 
and Gaviria left the CNE and criticized the observers for not 
having given prior notice of their visit.  Rodriguez claimed 
the totalization process was proceeding normally, noting that 
some actas were slow to arrive at CNE site.  Gaviria the 
Ambassador on June 1 that CNE President Francisco Carrasquero 
and Director Oscar Battaglini threatened to expel President 
 
Carter and Gaviria.  Carter and Gaviria did not blink. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
CD Positive, But Laments Delays, Persecution 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (U) CD negotiator Alberto Quiros told the diplomatic corps 
June 1 Zamora's accusations the day before were justified. 
The process is being carried out in a normal manner, he said, 
with some inconveniences.  Specifically, Quiros cited the 
late delivery of actas from the states.  He said that CNE had 
informed him that morning that all but three states had been 
received and the remainder would arrive at the CNE on June 1. 
 Quiros said he is confident the CNE is now working and can 
announce final results by June 4.  Fellow CD negotiator 
Felipe Mujica, Secretary General of the Movement to Socialism 
(MAS), asserted that there is no reason for the delays other 
than that the CNE is waiting for the political decision from 
Chavez as to how to proceed. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Chavistas Back CNE Authority, Cry Fraud 
--------------------------------------- 
 
6. (U) Comando Ayacucho Coordinator Ismael Garcia told 
reporters June 1 that the OAS and Carter Center (TCC) must 
maintain their objectivity and not emit opinions that are the 
competency of the CNE.  Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) Deputy 
William Tarek Saab accused the OAS/TCC of speaking on behalf 
of opposition parties AD and COPEI and questioned the OAS' 
inclusion of a State Department official in its observer 
mission.  MVR Director Elias Jaua told reporters June 1 the 
appeals were a civic demonstration by Venezuelans despite 
being "stained" by criminals linked to the 
"counter-revolution" who falsified identity cards to forge 
signatures.  Jaua said the MVR would request the CNE permit 
them a physical inspection of the appeals registers as part 
of their complaint of alleged electoral crimes. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (C) The GOV is well aware there are enough signatures to 
force the referendum.  Chavista lieutenants continue to level 
accusations against the opposition of massive fraud, setting 
the stage for Chavez to reject the results of the appeals 
should he so choose.  He may also decide to squeeze the CNE 
and eke out a favorable decision, as he did during the 
signature drive. 
 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
NNNN 
 
      2004CARACA01878 - CONFIDENTIAL