US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1957

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001957 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER 
 
    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO QUESTIONED BY MILITARY 
COURT 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (D 
) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) A MILITARY JUDGE REFUSED THE PROSECUTOR'S REQUEST 
JUNE 8 TO JAIL JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO. A MILITARY 
PROSECUTOR CHARGED POLEO MARCH 22 WITH FOMENTING REBELLION 
AND DEFAMATION OF THE ARMED FORCES BASED ON A VIDEO POLEO 
MADE PUBLIC SHOWING CUBANS IN A NATIONAL GUARD BARRACKS. 
MILITARY PROSECUTORS ALSO CALLED POLEO TO TESTIFY JUNE 3 IN 
THE CASE OF THE ALLEGED COLOMBIAN PARAMILITARIES. POLEO 
ACCUSED DEFENSE MINISTER GEN. JORGE LUIS GARCIA CARNEIRO OF 
PRESSURING THE MILITARY JUDGE IN THE REBELLION CASE TO 
IMPRISON HER. SHE ALSO ACCUSED GARCIA OF TRYING TO GET 
MILITARY OFFICERS DETAINED IN THE PARAMILITARY CASE TO 
IMPLICATE HER. END SUMMARY. 
 
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CUBAN VIDEO CASE 
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2.  (U) A MILITARY JUDGE REFUSED A PROSECUTION REQUEST TO 
JAIL JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO, DIRECTOR OF THE NEWSPAPER "EL 
    NUEVO PAIS." INSTEAD, SHE MUST REPORT EVERY 15 DAYS TO THE 
COURT, CANNOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY, AND MUST REQUEST PERMISSION 
TO LEAVE CARACAS. A MILITARY PROSECUTOR CHARGED POLEO WITH 
FOMENTING REBELLION AND DEFAMATION OF THE ARMED FORCES MARCH 
22 FOR AIRING A VIDEO ON TELEVISION WHICH CLAIMED TO SHOW 
CUBANS IN A NATIONAL GUARD BARRACKS IN APURE STATE. POLEO HAS 
TESTIFIED NOW FIVE TIMES IN THE CASE. SHE CLAIMS DEFENSE 
MINISTER JORGE LUIS GARCIA CARNEIRO IS DIRECTLY PRESSURING 
THE JUDGE IN THE CASE TO JAIL HER PENDING TRIAL, AND HE WAS 
PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM DURING THE JUNE 8 HEARING. POLEO HAS 
COMPLAINED THAT AS A CIVILIAN, THE CONSTITUTION FORBIDS HER 
BEING TRIED IN A MILITARY COURT. 
 
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PARAMILITARIES 
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3.  (U) ANOTHER MILITARY PROSECUTOR CALLED POLEO TO TESTIFY 
ON JUNE 3 IN THE CASE OF THE ALLEGED COLOMBIAN 
PARAMILITARIES. MOVIMIENTO QUINTO REPUBLICA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
DEPUTY IRIS VARELA ACCUSED POLEO MAY 14 OF PLANNING THE 
ALLEGED COUP PLOT TOGETHER WITH ROBERTO ALONSO, AND GEN. 
FELIPE RODRIGUEZ IN CONJUNCTION WITH COLOMBIAN ARMY HEAD GEN. 
MARTIN CARRENO. POLEO DECLARED AFTER MEETING WITH THE 
PROSECUTOR THAT SHE WAS CONFIDENT HE WAS TRYING TO DISCOVER 
THE TRUTH IN THE CASE. SHE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED IN THAT CASE. 
 
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COMMENT 
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    4.  (C) THE USE OF EXAGGERATED CHARGES IS SIMILAR TO THE 
SUMATE CASE, AND SHOWS THAT INTIMIDATION IS THE REAL AIM. 
POLEO HAS BEEN A THORN IN THE GOVERNMENT'S SIDE. SHE HAS 
SOURCES IN THE MILITARY, AND WHETHER EXAGGERATED OR 
SENSATIONALIST, THE INFORMATION SHE OBTAINS FROM THEM AND 
PUBLISHES USUALLY RANKLES THE GOVERNMENT. 
SHAPIRO 
 
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      2004CARACA01957 - CONFIDENTIAL