US embassy cable - 05CARACAS1235

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001235 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, VE 
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CELEBRATES APRIL 13 ANNIVERSARY 
 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, 
for Reason 1.4(d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (U) President Hugo Chavez celebrated the third anniversary 
of his return to power of 2002, after a two-day temporary 
ouster, with three commemorative acts on April 13.  While 
swearing in what the GOV claimed were approximately 29,000 
new military reservists in Caracas, Chavez explained his 
vision of a civil-military union and praised Latin America 
for affirming its own vision in the Organization of American 
States' elections for Secretary General despite U.S. 
pressure.  During the inauguration of the third "Conference 
on World Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution" the same 
day, Chavez called for a new 21st century socialism and 
alleged that the U.S. has plans to destabilize Venezuela and 
to ensure he was not reelected in 2006.  The grand finale was 
a Chavez speech to several thousand Chavez in downtown 
Caracas. All of Venezuela's television and radio stations 
broadcast the more than seven hours of speeches by Chavez, as 
mandated by the GOV. End Summary. 
 
2. (U) President Hugo Chavez and his supporters celebrated 
the third anniversary of his return to power of 2002 with 
commemorative acts on April 13.  Dressed in the new 
Venezuelan military uniform, Chavez swore in what the GOV 
claimed were approximately 29,000 new military reservists at 
Caracas's armed forces headquarters.  (Note: In his "Alo, 
Presidente" speech April 17, Chavez approximated 20,000 
reservisits.)  In a two-hour national broadcast over all of 
the country's radio and television stations, Chavez said he 
was looking to create a civic-military union to fortify the 
physical and moral fiber of the country.  The reserves are a 
strategic resource for national independence, Chavez 
asserted.  To keep his promise for better funding, Chavez 
said, he was raising the stipend each reservist received for 
training days to 16,000 bolivares (approximately USD 8).  He 
also criticized the U.S., claiming the USG had pressured 
other countries to influence the Organization of American 
States' (OAS) elections for Secretary General, but had been 
met by a solid and dignified Latin America with its own 
vision. 
 
3. (U) Chavez later inaugurated the third "Conference on 
World Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution" with a 
three-hour speech also broadcast on every Venezuelan radio 
and television station by GOV mandate.  Having changed out of 
his military uniform and into a suit, he reiterated his call 
to the people of the world for a new socialism, adapted to 
the 21st century, to resolve the underdeveloped world's ills. 
 Transitioning from anti-capitalism and allusions to obvious 
anti-American statements, Chavez claimed he was going to 
spoil the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon's plan 
to poison him, create a crisis in Venezuela, and ensure he is 
not reelected in 2006.  He labeled Plan Colombia part of the 
plan, and pointed out that some of his supporters were 
preparing for a guerrilla war in case the U.S. invaded. 
 
4. (C) Speaking before a crowd of several thousand supporters 
in downtown Caracas that evening, Chavez praised the economic 
recovery and the increase in petroleum revenue.  Once again 
holding the national audience captive by broadcasting on all 
radio and television stations, Chavez patted himself on the 
back for raising the petroleum royalties for foreign 
companies producing heavy crude in the Orinoco region from 1 
to 16.6 percent, thereby gaining an extra 2.5 billion 
dollars.  He assured his supporters that petroleum income was 
being used to support the missions and for other strategic 
public projects.  Continuing on his economic theme, he said 
he hoped to raise the minimum wage to at least 400,000 
bolivares (approximately USD 200) or as high as he possibly 
could.  Two Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) contacts told 
Poloff they had been "strongly urged" to attend the event. 
 
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Comment 
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5. (C) With over seven hours of broadcast speeches, Chavez 
made the most of his anniversary celebration.  Again pitting 
Venezuela as David versus the big U.S. imperialist Goliath, 
Chavez tried to use the OAS elections to depict another 
vitory for Venezuela.  His expected anti-U.S. rhetoric 
specifically alluded to the CIA and Pentagon being involved 
in plans to destabilize Venezuela and make sure he was not 
reelected in 2006.  Chavez counterweighted his negative 
anti-American message with praise for his own government and 
its plans to fight poverty and social ills in Venezuela and 
abroad with oil money and "new socialism."  While Chavez 
showed his pride in the new reserves, DAO noted that the 
20,000 included both reservists and active duty units 
recruited to beef up the visuals of the event. 
Brownfield 
 
 
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      2005CARACA01235 - CONFIDENTIAL