Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04CARACAS2059
2004-06-22 20:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

TIP REPORT: GOV REACTS INDIGNANTLY

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
This 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 002059 

SIPDIS


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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: TIP REPORT: GOV REACTS INDIGNANTLY

REF: CARACAS 1998

CLASSIFIED BY: MARK A. WELLS, ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR, FOR REASONS 1
.4(B) AND (D).

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002059

SIPDIS


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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: TIP REPORT: GOV REACTS INDIGNANTLY

REF: CARACAS 1998

CLASSIFIED BY: MARK A. WELLS, ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR, FOR REASONS 1
.4(B) AND (D).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) NUMEROUS GOV OFFICIALS RESPONDED WITH INDIGNATION AND
CONDEMNATION TOWARD THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S 2004 TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT, WHICH LISTED VENEZUELA AS A TIER 3
COUNTRY. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ACCUSED THE U.S. OF SERIOUS
TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF ITS OWN. GOV AND
PRO-GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ASSAILED THE REPORT AS PART OF A USG
ANTI-CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE AGUUST 15
REFERENDUM. WHILE THE REACTION WAS FORCEFUL, IT WAS SOON
OVERTAKEN BY THE RELEASE OF THE JUNE 17 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
REPORT ON THE POLITICIZATION OF VENEZUELA'S JUDICIARY. END
SUMMARY.

--------------
GOV CONDEMNS, DENIES, AND ACCUSES
--------------


2. (U) GOV OFFICIALS AND MEDIA SOURCES CONDEMNED THE
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT, CHALLENGED ITS
LEGITIMACY, AND ACCUSED THE USG OF USING THE REPORT IN ITS
"DIRTY WAR" TO UNSEAT PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ. ON A
STATE-SUPPORTED NEWS WEBSITE, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONDED
TO THE TIP REPORT WITH A PRESS STATEMENT CLAIMING THAT "THE
U.S. IS THE LARGEST TRAFFICKER IN PERSONS." THE RESPONSE
ACCUSED THE U.S. OF TRAFFICKING LATIN AMERICAN CHILDREN FOR
PROSTITUTION AND AGRICULTURAL LABOR, NOT SIGNING
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES PROTECTING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS (E.G. UN
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD),AND PRODUCING THE
LARGEST AMOUNT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. BERNARDO ALVAREZ,
VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S., SAID THAT VENEZUELA WOULD NOT
ACCEPT THE USG'S SELF-APPOINTED ROLE AS GLOBAL JUDGE OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS.


3. (U) DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AREVALO MENDEZ ACCUSED THE USG
OF USING THE TIP REPORT TO UNSEAT PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ.
MENDEZ SAID THAT THE REPORT IS THE WORK OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT AND CIA, WHO RELEASED THE REPORT TO "PREJUDICE OUR
COUNTRY, IN ITS ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE AUGUST 15
REFERENDUM." MENDEZ DESCRIBED THE REPORT AS AN AGGRESSION
TOWARD CHAVEZ AND THE GOV, LIKENING IT TO THE USG'S ALLEGED
INVOLVEMENT IN THE EVENTS OF APRIL 11, 2002. MENDEZ FUMED
THAT THE "INSANITY OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE STATE
DEPARTMENT HAS REACHED AN EXTREME."


4. (U) TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY'S FOREIGN POLICY COMMITTEE, COMMENTED ON THE HIGH
U.S. PROSTITUTION RATE, PARTICULARLY CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, BUT
DIRECTED MUCH OF HIS CRITICISM TOWARD THE USG PLOT TO REMOVE
CHAVEZ. SAAB DESCRIBED THE TIP REPORT AS PART OF AN OPEN,
HOSTILE USG CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO "DISTORT THE VENEZUELAN
REALITY AND FACILITATE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL RESOLUTION." SAAB
STATED THAT THE USG "WANTS TO USE AND MANIPULATE A TOPIC AS
SENSITIVE AS THIS TO CONDUCT A DIRTY WAR AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ IN THE MIDDLE OF A
REFERENDUM PROCESS."


5. (C) VICE PRESIDENT JOSE VINCENTE RANGEL ALSO RAISED THE
ISSUE WITH THE AMBASSADOR IN THEIR MEETING ON JUNE 16 (SEE
REFTEL). RANGEL CITED THE TIP REPORT AND ASKED RHETORICALLY
HOW LONG USG ATTACKS ON THE GOV WILL CONTINUE, DIRECTLY
CITING THE TIP REPORT. RANGEL COMPARED VENEZUELA'S
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS' SITUATION TO COLOMBIA AND BRAZIL, WHO
RECEIVED BETTER RATINGS.
SHAPIRO

NNNN
2004CARACA02059 - CONFIDENTIAL