TORTURE VICTIM DIES OF INJURIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001154

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2013
TAGS: PHUM PGOV VE
SUBJECT: TORTURE VICTIM DIES OF INJURIES


CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B
) AND (D)


1. (U) ARMY PERSONNEL OF THE 11TH INFANTRY BATTALION DETAINED
JUAN CARLOS ZAMBRANO, HIS COMMON-LAW WIFE, HIS BROTHER AND
ANOTHER COMPANION MARCH 6 IN LAGUNILLAS, ZULIA STATE. DURING
MARCH 6-9, THEY ALLEGEDLY BEAT AND TORTURED THE MEN AND RAPED
ZAMBRANO'S WIFE. ZAMBRANO DIED OF HIS INJURIES ON MARCH 10,
INCLUDING MASSIVE TRAUMA TO MOST OF HIS BODY AND INTERNAL
HEMORRHAGING, ACCORDING TO THE FORENSIC REPORT. THE THREE
SURVIVING VICTIMS ARE ILLITERATE AND COULD NOT READ THE
SOLDIERS' NAMES ON THEIR UNIFORMS BUT HAVE GIVEN DETAILED
STATEMENTS OF THE ATTACKS. THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
COFAVIC DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT IN A MARCH 18 REPORT.


2. (U) IN RESPONSE TO THIS EVENT, THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FORMED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION COMPRISED OF SEVEN
DEPUTIES, AND HEADED BY ROBERTO QUINTEROS (MVR) AND JESUS
CARRILLO (AD). THE COMMISSION INTERVIEWED THE VICTIMS AND
REVIEWED THE MEDICAL AND AUTOPSY REPORTS BUT WAS STYMIED IN
ITS ATTEMPTS TO DISCOVER THE IDENTITY OF THE SOLDIERS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THE ATTACK. "THE MILITARY SHOULD TELL US
WHICH SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS WERE ON DUTY THAT DAY AND ALLOW
US TO INSPECT THE ROSTER," CARRILLO ASSERTED IN A MARCH 31
PRESS INTERVIEW. CARRILLO CHARGED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE
BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME IN THE MILITARY, BUT THE
VICTIMS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOO FRIGHTENED TO COME FORWARD.
DAILY TALCUAL REPORTED APRIL 2 THAT THE COMMISSION HAS ASKED
DEFENSE MINISTER GEN. JORGE LUIS GARCIA CARNEIRO TO ORDER HIS
SUBORDINATES TO COOPERATE IN THE INVESTIGATION. THERE HAS
BEEN NO RESPONSE YET FROM THE MINISTER.

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COMMENT
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3. (C) THE ZAMBRANO CASE HIGHLIGHTS THE CONTINUED POTENTIAL
FOR MILITARY ABUSES IN VENEZUELA. THE ABSENCE OF POLITICS
FROM THE CASE, ALTHOUGH THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE WAKE OF
POLITICAL VIOLENCE, MAY MAKE IT EASIER TO HAVE A TRUE
INVESTIGATION. THE REFLEXIVE REACTION FROM THE MILITARY
HIERARCHY TO CLOSE OFF INQUIRIES, HOWEVER, SIGNALS THE REAL
POSSIBILITY THAT THE ARMY WILL REVERT TO PRACTICES PREVIOUSLY
REGARDED AS ANACHRONISTIC.
SHAPIRO

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2004CARACA01154 - CONFIDENTIAL