US embassy cable - 04CARACAS2591

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COVERING VENEZUELA'S RECALL REFERENDUM

Identifier: 04CARACAS2591
Wikileaks: View 04CARACAS2591 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Caracas
Created: 2004-08-12 19:13:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002591 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR C. BARTON 
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2013 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: COVERING VENEZUELA'S RECALL REFERENDUM 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Abelardo A. Arias for reason 1.4 (d) 
. 
 
1.  (C) Embassy Caracas will field informal observers to 
cover the presidential recall referendum August 15 in and 
around the capital, Maracaibo and Puerto LaCruz as well as 
Carabobo and Aragua States.  Lacking National Electoral 
Council credentials for access to voting centers, our 
observers will seek to obtain information indirectly through 
conversations with local political leaders and accredited 
observers if the opportunity arises.  They will also provide 
a first hand, on-the-street perspective of the voting. 
 
2.  (SBU) As of 0800 local on August 15, Embassy watch will 
commence in Political Section.  After an initial e-mail 
report on overnight developments and the opening of the 
voting day, we will transmit reporting cable at mid-day. 
Other cable and e-mail reports as necessary will follow 
during the day.  (Voting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m. 
and concludes at 4:00 p.m. or when the last person in line 
votes.  CNE President Francisco Carrasquero told reporters 
August 10 the CNE plans to have the first results a few hours 
after polls close.) 
 
3.  (SBU) Additionally, Embassy will be supporting Codel 
Weller which arrives the afternoon of August 14, and the 
visit of former President Jimmy Carter, who arrives August 
13.  We have asked for CNE credentials for all Codel Weller 
members to be official observers. (Two of the five 
congressmen already have CNE invitations to be observers). 
Ambassador and DCM will accompany the Codel as they visit 
voting centers in Caracas, should the CNE extend the 
invitations as requested. 
Shapiro 
 
 
NNNN 
      2004CARACA02591 - CONFIDENTIAL 

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