US embassy cable - 04CARACAS2266

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 002266 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: BISHOPS URGE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND CLEAN ELECTION 
 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Abelardo A. Arias, for Reason 1.4 (d) 
 
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 Summary 
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1. (U) The Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV), comprised 
of Venezuela's Catholic bishops, July 12 exhorted all actors 
participating in the August 15 presidential recall referendum 
to act ethically. The bishops also urged them to ensure that 
the process remains free of corruption and fraud so that the 
results, regardless of whom wins, are accepted without 
violence, and all voters participate in the referendum. The 
statement will be read during mass at all Catholic churches 
on July 18. Chavez supporters reacted with allegations that 
the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is taking an 
inappropriate role in politics. End Summary. 
 
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CHURCH STATEMENT RELEASED 
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2. (U) The Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV) issued a 
15-point statement on July 12 urging voters to participate in 
the August 15 recall referendum against President Hugo 
Chavez. CEV President and Archbishop of Merida, Baltasar 
Porras, called on Venezuelan society to eradicate intolerance 
and exclusion, saying that at least minimum agreement was 
needed to build democracy. The document calls upon the 
military, political leaders, the media and telecommunications 
industry, and international observers to do their part in 
ensuring that the Revocatory Referendum process is 
transparent and just. It also specifically exhorts the 
National Electoral Council (CNE) to act impartially and to 
present the results of the referendum in a transparent 
manner. The CEV statement will be read to parishioners during 
Sunday mass July 18. 
 
3. (U) Ramon Viloria, Bishop of Puerto Cabello said, "We are 
calling for transparency precisely because of the atmosphere 
that has been growing. We are bringing it to light now 
because we want absolutely no obstacles of any kind when the 
will of the people is manifest. That is why we are simply 
putting out a warning so that no organization, in this case 
the CNE, hampers the fulfillment of the will of the people." 
 
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CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS REACT 
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4. (U) Chavez supporters denounced the report as evidence of 
the Church's bias against Chavez. Willian Lara, National 
Assembly deputy for Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) 
said, "As a Venezuelan Catholic I am asking the bishops to 
understand that the Catholic Church belongs to the people of 
God and not to the clergy no matter how high their position. 
Neither the church nor it's leadership, like the CEV, should 
be used for political campaigning that favors one side over 
another." Lara also called Porras a "politician in a 
hassock." MVR deputy Darios Vivas said the CEV should have 
warned the opposition parties, as they are the ones prone to 
violate Venezuelan law. Vivas accused the Church's leadership 
of having participated in the events of April 2002. In a 
later statement, Vice-President Jose Vincente Rangel reminded 
reporters that all Venezuelans are part of the Catholic 
"flock" despite their diverse ways of thinking. He urged the 
Church to avoid taking political sides. 
 
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Comment 
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5. (C) Chavez's government and the CEV have a history of 
finding themselves at odds. The leadership of the Catholic 
Church has issued similar statements in the past, most 
recently in anticipation of the Reparo vote in May 2004. 
Chavez supporters have responded and continue to respond by 
attacking the Catholic Church leadership and appealing to 
 
ordinary Catholics to not allow themselves to be manipulated. 
McFarland 
 
 
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      2004CARACA02266 - CONFIDENTIAL