GOV NABS BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001658

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 NABS BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE
CAPRILES RADONSKY

REF: CARACAS 0950

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


1. (U) BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE CAPRILES RADONSKY
(PRIMERO JUSTICIA) PRESENTED HIMSELF BEFORE A CARACAS COURT
MAY 11 TO FACE CHARGES REGARDING HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A
VIOLENT PROTEST OUTSIDE THE CUBAN EMBASSY ON APRIL 12, 2002
(REF). DURING THE HEARING, PROSECUTOR DANILO ANDERSON
REQUESTED THAT CAPRILES BE REMANDED TO CUSTODY BECAUSE THE
MAYOR WAS A FLIGHT RISK, WHEREUPON DISIP (POLITICAL POLICE)
OFFICERS TOOK CAPRILES INTO CUSTODY. ANDERSON NOW HAS UP TO
45 DAYS TO PRESENT FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR.
CAPRILES WILL REMAIN IN DISIP CUSTODY DURING THAT TIME,
ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS.


2. (C) CAPRILES WENT INTO HIDING WHEN THE FIRST DETENTION
ORDER FOR HIM WAS ISSUED MARCH 16 AND REEMERGED AFTER THE
SUPREME COURT (TSJ) STRUCK IT DOWN APRIL 1. CAPRILES TOLD
THE AMBASSADOR APRIL 22 THAT HE EXPECTED THE CASE TO RESUME
UNDER A NEW JUDGE MAY 11. CAPRILES' ATTORNEY FILED A REQUEST
TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION OF ANDERSON FOR HAVING DISOBEYED
THE TSJ DECISION, ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS.


3. (U) SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER CAPRILES' DETENTION MAY
11, PRIMERO JUSTICIA DEPUTIES JULIO BORGES, LILIANA
HERNANDEZ, AND GERARDO BLYDE CONDEMNED THE ACTION AND VOWED
THAT THE MAYOR WOULD BE EXONERATED AND FREED. "IT'S A
POLITICAL DECISION FROM A POLITICAL JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR THAT
HAVE USED THE VENEZUELAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS A MECHANISM FOR
POLITICAL REPRESSION, AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A
DEMOCRATIC STATE," BLYDE SAID.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) GOV ACTIONS AGAINST CAPRILES SHOW EVERY SIGN OF BEING
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. A POPULAR POLITICIAN AND A DETERMINED
ANTI-CHAVISTA, CAPRILES IS A SIGNIFICANT TARGET FOR CHAVEZ
SUPPORTERS AS THEY STRIVE TO MAKE INROADS IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN THE CAPITAL. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THERE IS
LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE BARUTA MAYOR TRULY WORKED TO CALM THE
SITUATION AT THE CUBAN EMBASSY IN APRIL 2002, THE GOV IS
INTENT ON PRESSING THE CHARGES. SINCE THE FIRST DETENTION
ORDER WAS ISSUED, PRIMERO JUSTICIA HAS BEEN AIRING TV SPOTS
SHOWING THE MAYOR INTERVENING TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS, AND THE
CUBAN AMBASSADOR LATER THANKING CAPRILES FOR HIS EFFORTS. IN
THE MEANTIME, CAPRILES WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY. WHILE THE
COURTS MAY EVENTUALLY FREE CAPRILES, AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS
LIKE HE IS A POLITICAL PRISONER.
SHAPIRO

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2004CARACA01658 - CONFIDENTIAL