US embassy cable - 05CARACAS2286

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 002286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PTER, VE 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER DETAINED AT AIRPORT 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d 
) 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (C) Venezuelan National Guard and Intelligence Services 
(DISIP) officers temporarily detained Tulio Alvarez_, the head 
of the opposition group Verdad Venezuela, at the airport in 
Maracaibo July 27 as he was departing for Caracas.  Minister 
of the Interior Jesse Chacon claimed that security forces 
stopped Alvarez_ because he was traveling in a stolen car and 
carrying arms illegally.  Alvarez_ denied the charges and 
alleged that he had been followed by state security forces 
during his visit to the region.  He accused Chacon of 
harassment, and the GOV of persecuting members of the 
opposition to stifle political resistance.  End summary. 
 
2. (U)  A combined force of fourteen National Guard and DISIP 
agents detained Tulio Alvarez_, the head of the opposition 
group Verdad Venezuela, at the airport in Maracaibo July 27, 
according to press reports.  Minister of the Interior Chacon 
told reporters security forces stopped Alvarez_ because he was 
traveling in a car listed as stolen in police systems and 
carrying arms illegally.  The local Commander of the National 
Guard, General Castor Perez Leal, reiterated Chacon's claims 
and called the detention routine.  Perez said that after 
security forces stopped the car, they received information 
from the DISIP that Alvarez_ was armed and proceeded to 
attempt to conduct an inspection, however, Alvarez_ refused to 
cooperate. 
 
3. (U) Alvarez_ told reporters that he refused to open his 
luggage or be taken to the National Guard's offices for an 
interrogation without the presence of a prosecutor. It is no 
coincidence, he said, that security forces were waiting to 
detain him at the airport.  He alleged he had been followed 
by security forces during all his visit to Zulia State and 
that hotel personnel had informed him about suspicious 
inquiries as to when he was leaving for the airport.  During 
some of his detention, Alvarez_ spoke live, on the air to 
Caracas' largest radio station. 
 
4. (C) Alvarez_ sent a more detailed description of security 
force harassment to the Embassy as a precaution the morning 
of July 27 prior to his detainment at the airport.  He said 
he was followed to his meetings July 26, and that when he 
arrived back at his hotel, hotel personnel told him a bell 
boy had been asked by unidentified men whether he had arrived 
for the night yet.  On the morning of July 27, someone 
claiming to work in the hotel reception called to ask when he 
needed a taxi to the airport, however when he went down to 
the reception area, hotel personnel working reception told 
him they had not called.  He ended his note saying "I am 
sending this message so that (you) will know what is 
happening, but do not make it public. This is simply a 
precaution. They are hunting me." 
 
5. (C) Alvarez_ connected his alleged persecution in Zulia 
with the GOV's treatment of opposition forces in Venezuela 
declaring to the press that "It is the way this regime 
harasses people who oppose it politically."  He called upon 
Minister of the Interior Chacon to cease his efforts to 
stifle Alvarez_'s work as the head of Verdad Venezuela. 
Alvarez_ told PolCouns July 28 that he was convinced that the 
authorities were prepared to plant weapons on him. "That's 
why I raised such a fuss," he said.  Alavarez said the 
present interest in him is related more to what he saw during 
this trip to the Venezuelan side of the Perija mountain 
range. He said that in his political meetings participants 
gave him precise information about which ranches the FARC is 
using and details about the logistical network. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
6. (C) Tulio Alvarez_'s arbitrary detention and harassment 
during his trip to Zulia State clearly signal that the GOV is 
not going to give the opposition free rein.  Alvarez_ has been 
traveling regularly for months in the provinces with an 
anti-GOV message, and has faced some harassment, but this is 
the first time the security forces have acted blatantly. With 
the appeal of his conviction for defaming MVR National 
Assembly deputy William Lara still pending, Alvarez_ is likely 
 
to face further harassment. 
Brownfield 
 
 
NNNN 
      2005CARACA02286 - CONFIDENTIAL