US embassy cable - 04CARACAS2207

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 002207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: CARTER CENTER BALKS AT OBSERVER RULES 
 
REF: CARACAS 2201 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, for R 
easons 1.4 (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) Carter Center (TCC) representative Edgardo Mimica told 
poloffs July 8 TCC will not accept an invitation from the 
National Electoral Council (CNE) to observe the August 15 
presidential recall referendum without agreement to minimum 
conditions that guarantee the freedom and autonomy of the 
observers.  Mimica said the Carter Center has coordinated its 
position with the OAS.  CNE Director Oscar Battaglini, a 
Chavista hardliner, plans to limit the number of all 
observers to 100, provide schedules and escorts for every 
observer, and prohibit their talking to the press.  Despite 
expressions of support for international observers from 
President Hugo Chavez and his Comando Maisanta campaign 
committee, Battaglini seems determined to discourage -- or at 
least control -- observer participation.  End summary. 
 
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Carter Center Gets Tough 
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2. (C) A/DCM and poloff met with Carter Center (TCC) 
representative Edgardo Mimica July 8 to discuss the National 
Electoral Council's (CNE) regulations for international 
observers approved on June 23 (ref).  Mimica said, that based 
on their discussions with the CNE, the Carter Center would 
not accept an invitation to observe the August 15 
presidential recall referendum.  Mimica said they would only 
do so if the CNE agreed to conditions that are basic to any 
electoral observation.  CNE Director Oscar Battaglini, who 
will oversee international observer participation, indicated 
he intends to mount "a Chinese elections observation 
mission," according to Mimica.  The CNE plans to invite 
officials from foreign electoral authorities in the region as 
well as sympathetic legislators from Europe and Latin America 
to observe the signature drives and appeals process. (Note: 
Similar observers made short, protocolary visits to signature 
sites and the CNE during the appeals process, often praising 
the CNE's performance to the press and on state media.  These 
observers had no contact with the OAS/TCC missions and did 
not undertake statistical analyses or quick counts.) 
 
3. (C) The Carter Center, according to Mimica, is asking the 
CNE for conditions that most basic international observation 
missions enjoy, including free circulation within Venezuela 
and freedom to make reports to the Venezuelan public and the 
international community on the referendum process.  The 
Carter Center wants to bring 50 observers and 15 technicians 
(both informatics and logistical), 45 more persons than the 
CNE is contemplating allowing it.  The Carter Center insisted 
it would need to receive the CNE's invitation by July 9.  The 
TCC also presented 12 technical points that include access to 
tally sheets from the election tables, access to the 
electoral registry, and permission to observe the quality 
control certification of the electoral machines. 
 
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Battaglini Plays the Tough 
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4. (U) The CNE rules established a committee headed by 
Battaglini and comprised of other CNE directors to be 
determined and CNE Secretary General William Pacheco. 
Battaglini harshly criticized the international observers 
during the signature appeals process, specifically the Carter 
Center and OAS for being "biased toward the opposition." 
Battaglini told reporters July 8 he would permit no more than 
100 observers, with a limit of 20 per delegation.  He said 
the CNE would provide escorts for all observers, possibly 
police officials, to ensure security.  He assured that 
observer movements would not be restricted, but insisted they 
be "programmed" ahead of time.  The CNE director emphasized 
 
that he wants the observers to show "discretion, objectivity, 
and respect for our sovereignty." 
 
5. (C) Battaglini, a sociology professor with no previous 
electoral experience, had been a relatively quiet pro-Chavez 
member of the CNE board since it was inaugurated September 
2003.  (Far to the left, Battaglini had been a close 
associate of CNE Director Rodriguez's father before his 
murder by security forces in the 1970s.)  Edgardo Mimica 
opined that Battaglini's new prominence on the observer issue 
stems from hardline Chavez supporters' irritation with CNE 
Director Jorge Rodriguez for allowing the referendum to go 
forward.  Battaglini, Mimica said, is seen as "harder than 
Rodriguez."  Mimica said Rodriguez had told him not to worry 
about Battaglini's program, that the conditions would be 
worked out once the observers were on the ground.  Mimica 
said they did not trust Rodriguez, or his authority in this 
area, and therefore decided to put it in writing to the CNE. 
 
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But Chavistas Want Observers 
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6. (C) Mimica said he was puzzled by Battaglini's willingness 
to risk international observer participation when senior GOV 
officials have expressed desire to have the observers.  He 
said President Chavez had told Francisco Diez and him July 2 
that he wanted international observers present for the 
referendum.  Mimica said he parlayed Chavez's endorsement of 
observers immediately into a meeting with William Lara, 
member of the Chavez campaign committee, Comando Maisanta. 
Lara also told Mimica the Comando supported having observers, 
confident observation would be necessary to convince the 
opposition that Chavez beat them fairly in the referendum. 
 
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OAS Coordination 
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7. (C) Mimica said the Carter Center had coordinated its 
position with the OAS.  As poloffs left the meeting with 
Mimica, in fact, they encountered OAS elections official 
Edgardo Reis, who confirmed he was aware of the Carter 
Center's actions.  Reis, who worked on the signature drives 
last year, said he was making a quick visit to talk with the 
CNE about OAS participation.  He said he planned to go to 
Washington July 9 to brief SYG Gaviria. 
 
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Comment 
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8. (C) Chavez hardliners worry the observers will control or 
limit the CNE in the referendum.  Battaglini seems to be 
carrying the torch for this faction within Chavismo, playing 
the "bad cop."  Chavez and the Comando Maisanta may 
talk-the-talk on observers, but Battaglini is squeezing the 
observers in a torturous negotiation in the meantime.  In the 
end, the GOV may not exclude the Carter Center and OAS from 
the process, but making things difficult diminishes the 
potential effectiveness of the observers. 
McFarland 
 
 
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      2004CARACA02207 - CONFIDENTIAL