JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO QUESTIONED BY MILITARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001957 SIPDIS NSC FOR CBARTON USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO QUESTIONED BY MILITARY COURT CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (D ) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) A MILITARY JUDGE REFUSED THE PROSECUTOR'S REQUEST JUNE 8 TO JAIL JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO. A MILITARY PROSECUTOR CHARGED POLEO MARCH 22 WITH FOMENTING REBELLION AND DEFAMATION OF THE ARMED FORCES BASED ON A VIDEO POLEO MADE PUBLIC SHOWING CUBANS IN A NATIONAL GUARD BARRACKS. MILITARY PROSECUTORS ALSO CALLED POLEO TO TESTIFY JUNE 3 IN THE CASE OF THE ALLEGED COLOMBIAN PARAMILITARIES. POLEO ACCUSED DEFENSE MINISTER GEN. JORGE LUIS GARCIA CARNEIRO OF PRESSURING THE MILITARY JUDGE IN THE REBELLION CASE TO IMPRISON HER. SHE ALSO ACCUSED GARCIA OF TRYING TO GET MILITARY OFFICERS DETAINED IN THE PARAMILITARY CASE TO IMPLICATE HER. END SUMMARY. -------------- CUBAN VIDEO CASE -------------- ¶2. (U) A MILITARY JUDGE REFUSED A PROSECUTION REQUEST TO JAIL JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO, DIRECTOR OF THE NEWSPAPER "EL NUEVO PAIS." INSTEAD, SHE MUST REPORT EVERY 15 DAYS TO THE COURT, CANNOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY, AND MUST REQUEST PERMISSION TO LEAVE CARACAS. A MILITARY PROSECUTOR CHARGED POLEO WITH FOMENTING REBELLION AND DEFAMATION OF THE ARMED FORCES MARCH 22 FOR AIRING A VIDEO ON TELEVISION WHICH CLAIMED TO SHOW CUBANS IN A NATIONAL GUARD BARRACKS IN APURE STATE. POLEO HAS TESTIFIED NOW FIVE TIMES IN THE CASE. SHE CLAIMS DEFENSE MINISTER JORGE LUIS GARCIA CARNEIRO IS DIRECTLY PRESSURING THE JUDGE IN THE CASE TO JAIL HER PENDING TRIAL, AND HE WAS PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM DURING THE JUNE 8 HEARING. POLEO HAS COMPLAINED THAT AS A CIVILIAN, THE CONSTITUTION FORBIDS HER BEING TRIED IN A MILITARY COURT. -------------- PARAMILITARIES -------------- ¶3. (U) ANOTHER MILITARY PROSECUTOR CALLED POLEO TO TESTIFY ON JUNE 3 IN THE CASE OF THE ALLEGED COLOMBIAN PARAMILITARIES. MOVIMIENTO QUINTO REPUBLICA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY IRIS VARELA ACCUSED POLEO MAY 14 OF PLANNING THE ALLEGED COUP PLOT TOGETHER WITH ROBERTO ALONSO, AND GEN. FELIPE RODRIGUEZ IN CONJUNCTION WITH COLOMBIAN ARMY HEAD GEN. MARTIN CARRENO. POLEO DECLARED AFTER MEETING WITH THE PROSECUTOR THAT SHE WAS CONFIDENT HE WAS TRYING TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH IN THE CASE. SHE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED IN THAT CASE. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) THE USE OF EXAGGERATED CHARGES IS SIMILAR TO THE SUMATE CASE, AND SHOWS THAT INTIMIDATION IS THE REAL AIM. POLEO HAS BEEN A THORN IN THE GOVERNMENT'S SIDE. SHE HAS SOURCES IN THE MILITARY, AND WHETHER EXAGGERATED OR SENSATIONALIST, THE INFORMATION SHE OBTAINS FROM THEM AND PUBLISHES USUALLY RANKLES THE GOVERNMENT. SHAPIRO NNNN 2004CARACA01957 - CONFIDENTIAL