GOV: RENEWED OFFENSIVE AGAINST EX-PDVSA EMPLOYEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001476 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: GOV: RENEWED OFFENSIVE AGAINST EX-PDVSA EMPLOYEES REF: 03 CARACAS 3725 CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (U) THE GOV RESUMED FORCED EVICTIONS OF EX-OIL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES EARLY THE MORNING OF APRIL 22 AT THE CAMPO MEDICO RESIDENTIAL AREA IN FALCON STATE. UP TO 80 NATIONAL GUARD (GN) TROOPS IN FULL RIOT GEAR SURROUNDED THE HOME OF ANDRES AND MARISOL PACHECO AND FORCED THE FAMILY TO VACATE THE HOUSE, ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS. ¶2. (C) FANNY GUEDEZ OF THE EX-OIL WORKERS NGO PETROLEUM PEOPLE TOLD POLOFF APRIL 26 THAT THE PACHECOS' 19-YEAR-OLD SON HAD BEEN OPERATED ON RECENTLY FOR APPENDICITIS WITH COMPLICATIONS. DUE TO HIS HEALTH CONDITION, THE STATE PEOPLE'S DEFENDER AND THE CHILD WELFARE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO MEDIATE A SEVEN-DAY DELAY IN THE EVICTION, BUT PDVSA OFFICIALS REFUSED. EX-PDVSA WORKER LEOPOLDO ROJAS WAS ALSO FORCED FROM HIS HOME, BUT GUEDEZ CLAIMS THE GN EVICTED HIM WITHOUT A COURT ORDER. SIX MORE EVICTIONS IN CAMPO MEDICO WERE EXPECTED ON APRIL 28, GUEDEZ SAID. ¶3. (U) IN SEPTEMBER 2003, APPROXIMATELY 300 GN TROOPS AND POLICE RAIDED THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LOS SEMERUCOS NEAR CAMPO MEDICO WITH TEAR GAS FOR THE STATED PURPOSE OF EVICTING ONE EX-PDVSA WORKER FROM GOVERNMENT OWNED HOUSING (SEE REFTEL). THE GN AND ARMY ALSO CARRIED OUT EVICTIONS OF FORMER OIL WORKERS IN THE STATES OF MONAGAS AND ANZOATEGUI BUT HAD MOSTLY CEASED SUCH ACTIONS BY DECEMBER 2003. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) THE GOV'S EVICTIONS OF EX-OIL WORKERS IN THE FALL OF 2003 ELICITED OUTCRIES FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE GN'S EMPLOYMENT OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST UNARMED ADULTS AND MINORS. ALLEGATIONS THAT THE EVICTIONS VIOLATED DUE PROCESS RIGHTS RECEIVED LESS ATTENTION. THE GOV WAS COMPARATIVELY RESTRAINED IN THE APRIL 22 EVICTIONS, THOUGH THE LEGAL AUTHORITY WITH WHICH THE ACTION WAS CARRIED OUT MAY BE LESS THAN CONVINCING UNDER CLOSE EXAMINATION. SHAPIRO NNNN 2004CARACA01476 - CONFIDENTIAL