SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE: MAY 27

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001837

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE: MAY 27

REF: CARACAS 1799

Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor,
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) The signature appeals process formally began on May
27, with armed forces and National Electoral Council (CNE)
workers mounting the 2,607 appeals centers throughout
Venezuela (centers will be open to the public May 28-30).
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel on May 27 characterized an
editorial by WHA A/S Roger Noriega as an "open, flagrant, and
deliberate provocation." Rangel also renewed allegations
that OAS chief observer Fernando Jaramillo is biased against
the GOV and issued an ultimatum that either SYG Gaviria
remove Jaramillo or the OAS observer mission could not
continue. Rangel and the armed forces reaffirmed the CNE's
ban on information centers to be set up near appeals sites.
The opposition called on the CNE and armed forces to act
objectively during the appeals, and demanded the right to
audit appeals materials when centers open to the public. End
summary.

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Appeals Process Set-Up Begins
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2. (U) The five-day period for the signature appeals in the
recall referendum process against President Hugo Chavez
formally began on May 27. National Electoral Council (CNE)
workers and the armed forces, under its Plan Republica to
support electoral events, readied the 2,607 appeals centers
for the three days (May 28-30) in which the centers will be
open to the public. The centers are scheduled to open at 6
a.m. and remain open a total of 12 hours per day (or, on the
last day, until lines are depleted). More than 100
international observers under the auspices of the OAS and
Carter Center (TCC) deployed around the country.

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GOV Blasts Noriega, OAS Observer
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3. (U) On May 26, CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez rejected the
op-ed piece by WHA A/S Roger Noriega accusing the GOV of
impeding the referendum process. Rodriguez dismissed the
comments as "interference from an illegitimate government"
and countered with allegations of irregularities in the
election of President Bush. On May 27, Vice President Jose
Vicente Rangel excoriated Noriega's piece as an "open,
flagrant, and deliberate attempt at provocation" and as
evidence of an imperious policy toward Venezuela and the rest
of the world. Rangel, too, questioned the legitimacy of the
Bush administration and then accused the USG of hypocrisy in
its human rights policy, showing for reporters the photos of
abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Rangel said the GOV
plans to complain officially to the Department of State as
well as via its missions to the OAS and the UN. He also said
the GOV will not recognize the U.S. as a member of the Group
of Friends.


4. (U) Rangel also reiterated charges of bias against OAS
Chief of Staff Fernando Jaramillo. Rangel linked Jaramilo's
"highly suspicious" behavior and the Noriega op-ed piece.
The Vice President said the GOV will not recognize any OAS
report with Jaramillo's name. Rangel claimed to have called
SYG Cesar Gaviria on May 26 after reading the article and
insisted that Gaviria disassociate himself from Noriega's
comments and remove Jaramillo immediately. Rangel said he
issued the ultimatum that either Jaramillo leave or the OAS
would not be welcome as international observers. In press
reports on May 27, SYG Gaviria expressed his continued
support for Jaramillo.

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Plan Republica

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5. (U) General Julio Quintero, head of the Unified Military
Command (CUFAN),told reporters May 26 the armed forces would
not permit the installation of information centers as banned
by the CNE May 26. He said the armed forces would deploy
45,000 soldiers to support the appeals centers and transport
the appeals materials under "Plan Republica." Carter Center
representative Francisco Diez, however, questioned during a
press conference May 27 whether the CNE had actually
prohibited the centers. Vice President Rangel affirmed that
information centers would not be permitted. Coordinadora
Democratica (CD) advisor Jorge Casado told PolCouns May 22
that they planned to go ahead with the centers. In their
view, the restriction on keeping them indoors was to the
Coordinadora's advantage because the authorities ostensibly
would need warrants to enter private premises.

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Opposition Seeks Assurances of Fair Play
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6. (C) Opposition spokespersons outlined May 27 three demands
of the GOV during the appeals. First, the CD wants to be
able to audit the appeals registers ("cuadernos") when the
centers open to assure their accuracy as well as to assure
the quality of the indelible ink used to mark the pinkie
fingers of those who make appeals. Second, the CD called
upon the armed forces to perform their duty and not impede
opposition efforts to collect the appeals. Finally, the CD
asked for the CNE to maintain clear rules of the game,
especially during the verification stage after the appeals.

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Comment
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7. (C) The centers of information will probably be the first
major dispute when the appeals centers open. The GOV no
doubt sees the centers as the backbone of the opposition's
organization for the appeals and wants to eliminate them.
The CNE did not issue a resolution to decide the matter, but
it is clear the intention is not to allow the information
centers. Rangel's railing against the OAS is a policy of
bluster. SYG Gaviria, fortunately, seems to be firm in not
giving in to it.
SHAPIRO


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2004CARACA01837 - CONFIDENTIAL