Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04CARACAS2033
2004-06-18 20:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002033
SIPDIS
NSC FOR CBARTON
HQ USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
UNSID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV VE
SUBJECT: THE NEXT ROUND OF ARRESTS?
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1 (C) A Caracas prosecutor has called Juan Fernandez, leader
of Gente de Petroleo (anti-Chavez group composed of fired
PDVSA employees),to testify June 17 as a suspect on
unspecified charges relating to the 2002 national strike.
Victor Ferreres, president of Venevision testified June 15
about the weapons found by the DISIP (Political Police) on a
Venevision property June 12, which prosecutors are trying to
tie to the paramilitary case. Prosecutors have also called
Leonardo Carvajal of the education NGO Asamblea de Educacion
to testify on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the
government for receiving funds from the National Endowment
for Democracy. DISIP agents also visited the leader of a
human rights NGO that was recently had a grant approved from
the US Agency for International Development, seeking
information about the funding of his organization. End Summary
--------------
Juan Fernandez
--------------
2. (U) A Caracas prosecutor informed Juan Fernandez, leader
of Gente de Petroleo(anti-Chavez group composed of fired
PDVSA employees) and member of the G-5 (a group of senior
opposition figures),that he was a suspect in an
investigation involving the national strike in 2002.
Fernandez is due to testify on June 17. The prosecutor is the
same one who sought to detain Fernandez and other
ex-officials of PDVSA last year on charges of treason for
their role as leaders of the national strike in 2002. At that
time a Caracas appeals court rejected the arrest warrant
issued by a lower court. According to newspaper reports, the
evidence in the case consists of hundreds of pictures of
empty gas stations, and technical reports of accidents at
PDVSA installations, but no proof of the individual
responsibility of any of the strike leaders in any alleged
acts of sabotage.
--------------
Venevision
--------------
3. (U) Victor Ferreres, president of Venevision, testified
as a witness in the military court investigating the case of
alleged Colombian paramilitaries captured May 9 outside
Caracas. This followed the discovery by DISIP (Political
Police) agents of some old firearms on a property leased by
Venevision. Ferreres told reporters that he was satisfied
with the way the testimony went, and was confident the case
would be resolved satisfactorily.
--------------
NED and AID Grantees
--------------
4. (C) Caracas prosecutors have also called Leonardo
Carvajal, member of the educational reform NGO Asamblea de
Educacion, to testify about funding his group received from
the National Endowment for Democracy. The investigation is
reportedly similar to the process against SUMATE, involving
charges of conspiracy against the GOV. DISIP agents
questioned Carlos Alberto Nieto Palma June 6. Nieto is the
head of Una Ventana a la Libertad, a human rights group,
which just had a grant approved from the US Agency for
International Development. Nieto told PAS FSN June 11 that
the agents arrived at his home without a court order. They
questioned him about his work defending alleged victims of
torture at the hands of Venezuelan security services, and
about receiving funds from the USG. Nieto reports the agents
then asked him questions about his family and work, which he
took to be warnings that the DISIP knew his movements and
those of his family.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GOV is ramping up a judicial offensive by
reopening the case against Fernandez at the same time there
is a case against SUMATE and a widening paramilitary
investigation. Precedent shows that these cases may lead to
detentions with relatively little evidence, which may in turn
leave political leaders out of action for long periods of
time. The opening of an investigation against Asamblea de
Educacion gives cover to the SUMATE case, by arguing that the
cases really are for violation of funding rules, and not
political intimidation. The visit to Nieto, who heads a
respected human rights NGO, indicates a more aggressive
posture by DISIP, intended to intimidate groups who are
monitoring the actions of Venezuelan security forces.
SHAPIRO
NNNN
2004CARACA02033 - CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
NSC FOR CBARTON
HQ USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
UNSID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV VE
SUBJECT: THE NEXT ROUND OF ARRESTS?
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1 (C) A Caracas prosecutor has called Juan Fernandez, leader
of Gente de Petroleo (anti-Chavez group composed of fired
PDVSA employees),to testify June 17 as a suspect on
unspecified charges relating to the 2002 national strike.
Victor Ferreres, president of Venevision testified June 15
about the weapons found by the DISIP (Political Police) on a
Venevision property June 12, which prosecutors are trying to
tie to the paramilitary case. Prosecutors have also called
Leonardo Carvajal of the education NGO Asamblea de Educacion
to testify on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the
government for receiving funds from the National Endowment
for Democracy. DISIP agents also visited the leader of a
human rights NGO that was recently had a grant approved from
the US Agency for International Development, seeking
information about the funding of his organization. End Summary
--------------
Juan Fernandez
--------------
2. (U) A Caracas prosecutor informed Juan Fernandez, leader
of Gente de Petroleo(anti-Chavez group composed of fired
PDVSA employees) and member of the G-5 (a group of senior
opposition figures),that he was a suspect in an
investigation involving the national strike in 2002.
Fernandez is due to testify on June 17. The prosecutor is the
same one who sought to detain Fernandez and other
ex-officials of PDVSA last year on charges of treason for
their role as leaders of the national strike in 2002. At that
time a Caracas appeals court rejected the arrest warrant
issued by a lower court. According to newspaper reports, the
evidence in the case consists of hundreds of pictures of
empty gas stations, and technical reports of accidents at
PDVSA installations, but no proof of the individual
responsibility of any of the strike leaders in any alleged
acts of sabotage.
--------------
Venevision
--------------
3. (U) Victor Ferreres, president of Venevision, testified
as a witness in the military court investigating the case of
alleged Colombian paramilitaries captured May 9 outside
Caracas. This followed the discovery by DISIP (Political
Police) agents of some old firearms on a property leased by
Venevision. Ferreres told reporters that he was satisfied
with the way the testimony went, and was confident the case
would be resolved satisfactorily.
--------------
NED and AID Grantees
--------------
4. (C) Caracas prosecutors have also called Leonardo
Carvajal, member of the educational reform NGO Asamblea de
Educacion, to testify about funding his group received from
the National Endowment for Democracy. The investigation is
reportedly similar to the process against SUMATE, involving
charges of conspiracy against the GOV. DISIP agents
questioned Carlos Alberto Nieto Palma June 6. Nieto is the
head of Una Ventana a la Libertad, a human rights group,
which just had a grant approved from the US Agency for
International Development. Nieto told PAS FSN June 11 that
the agents arrived at his home without a court order. They
questioned him about his work defending alleged victims of
torture at the hands of Venezuelan security services, and
about receiving funds from the USG. Nieto reports the agents
then asked him questions about his family and work, which he
took to be warnings that the DISIP knew his movements and
those of his family.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GOV is ramping up a judicial offensive by
reopening the case against Fernandez at the same time there
is a case against SUMATE and a widening paramilitary
investigation. Precedent shows that these cases may lead to
detentions with relatively little evidence, which may in turn
leave political leaders out of action for long periods of
time. The opening of an investigation against Asamblea de
Educacion gives cover to the SUMATE case, by arguing that the
cases really are for violation of funding rules, and not
political intimidation. The visit to Nieto, who heads a
respected human rights NGO, indicates a more aggressive
posture by DISIP, intended to intimidate groups who are
monitoring the actions of Venezuelan security forces.
SHAPIRO
NNNN
2004CARACA02033 - CONFIDENTIAL