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
)

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SUMMARY
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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.

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CUBAN VIDEO CASE
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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.

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PARAMILITARIES
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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.

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COMMENT
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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

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2004CARACA01957 - CONFIDENTIAL