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 SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002158 |
1. (C) A GROUP OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ATTACKED A PRO-CHAVEZ COMANDO MAISANTA CAMPAIGN TEAM IN THE WEALTHY ALTO PRADO AREA OF CARACAS ON JUNE 27. A STATE TELEVISION REPORTER WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND, AND A CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN WORKER WAS HIT IN THE HEAD AND LEFT BLEEDING. THE INCIDENT IS BEING USED BY PRO-CHAVEZ MEDIA, AND BY PRESIDENT CHAVEZ HIMSELF, TO PORTRAY THE OPPOSITION AS VIOLENT AND UNBALANCED. SOME OPPOSITION POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS HAVE BLAMED THE CHAVISTAS FOR THE ATTACK, CALLING THE ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN AN OPPOSITION NEIGHBORHOOD A PROVOCATION. THE MEDIA HAS BEEN MIXED, WITH SOME OPPOSITION PAPERS STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE ATTACK AS A SIGN OF INTOLERANCE. SEVERAL OPPOSITION POLITICIANS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN IN MEETINGS WITH POLOFFS RECENTLY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS IN THE EVENT CHAVEZ IS REVOKED. END SUMMARY. -------------------------- VIOLENCE IN ALTO PRADO -------------------------- 2. (U) A GROUP OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ATTACKED A GROUP OF CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN WORKERS WHEN THEY TRIED TO MOUNT A BOOTH FOR THE COMANDO MAISANTA (CHAVEZ' CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE) IN THE WEALTHY ALTO PRADO AREA OF CARACAS ON JUNE 27. A REPORTER FROM VENEZUELAN DE TELEVISION (VTV), THE GOVERNMENT STATION, WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND, ONE OF THE CHAVISTA CAMPAIGN WORKERS WAS LEFT BLEEDING FROM THE HEAD, AND AN ANGLICAN PRIEST PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT HAD TO BE LED AWAY BY THE LOCAL POLICE FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION. THE CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS ATTEMPTED TO SET UP A CAMPAIGN TENT IN A PUBLIC PARK, WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PERMITS ACCORDING TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THERE ARE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT THE CHAVISTAS WERE PLAYING LOAD MUSIC, TRYING TO HARASS DRIVERS, AND THROWING ROCKS AT CARS, CAUSING A CROWD TO FORM. OTHER REPORTS, HOWEVER, INDICATE THE PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD REACTED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE CHAVISTAS IN A HOSTILE MANNER IMMEDIATELY. -------------------------- CHAVISTA REACTION -------------------------- 3. (U) CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS PORTRAYED THE OPPOSITION AS VIOLENT, FASCIST, RACIST, AND IRRATIONAL. PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, ON HIS "ALO, PRESIDENTE!" PROGRAM, ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE THE OPPOSITION, SAYING "LORD, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." CHAVEZ BLAMED THE PRIVATE MEDIA FOR "PUTTING THE DEVIL INSIDE PEOPLE, DRIVING THEM MAD." CHAVEZ INSIDER AND MIRANDA STATE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DIOSDADO CABELLO TOLD SUPPORTERS JUNE 30 THAT ONE DAY OF RULE BY THE OPPOSITION WOULD RESEMBLE THE EVENTS OF APRIL, 2002: VIOLENCE, DISAPPEARANCES, AND REVENGE. THE ALTO PRADO INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE DAY OF THE PRESS, AND THE CHAVISTA PRESS CONDEMNED THE FAILURE OF THE OPPOSITION TO RESPECT THE PRO-GOV PRESS. A PROSECUTOR WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE OF ROMELIA MATUTE, THE VTV REPORTER THROWN TO THE GROUND, AND SHE WAS GIVEN TWO POLICE ESCORTS TO PROTECT HER, BECAUSE SHE LIVES IN ALTO PRADO. IT IS POSSIBLE THERE WILL BE ARRESTS IN THE CASE. -------------------------- OPPOSITION -------------------------- 4. (U) THE REACTION OF THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN MIXED. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NA) DEPUTY GERARDO BLYDE (PRIMERO JUSTICIA) AND EL UNIVERSAL COLUMNIST ROBERTO GUISTI CONDEMNED THE CHAVISTAS FOR PROVOKING THE VIOLENCE, AND RECALLED PREVIOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY CHAVISTAS AGAINST THE OPPOSITION. MOST OPPOSITION POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON THE INCIDENT. THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP PROVEA CALLED THE ATTACK "PROFOUNDLY IRRATIONAL," WHILE TEODORO CARACAS 00002158 002 OF 002 IOLENT. EL GLOBO HARSHLY ATTACKED THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE, CALLING IT "UNACCEPTABLE," "INFANTILE," AND "A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT." OTHER OPPOSITION PAPERS HAVE MADE NO EDITORIAL COMMENT, AND SOME HAVE NOT GIVEN THE INCIDENT MUCH COVERAGE. -------------------------- WHAT LIES BENEATH -------------------------- 5. (C) NA DEPUTY PASTOR HEYDRA (ACCION DEMOCRATICA) TOLD POLOFF ON JUNE 28 THAT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE ON THE PART OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS IN THE EVENT CHAVEZ IS REVOKED. HE SAID THAT THE OPPOSITION IS POWERED BY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOS, WHICH ARE OFTEN MORE RADICAL IN THEIR ANTI-CHAVISMO THAN THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES. HE SAID THE CD IS NOT GETTING ITS MESSAGE OUT ABOUT RECONCILIATION AND UNITY BECAUSE MUCH OF THE OPPOSITION'S SUPPORTERS REJECT IT. NA DEPUTY ERNESTO ALVARENGA (SOLIDARIDAD) TOLD POLOFF JUNE 16 THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE OPPOSITION DID NOT TRULY ACCEPT EX-CHAVISTAS, AND THAT THE FEAR AMONG CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS OF A WAVE OF REPRESSION AGAINST THEM SHOULD CHAVEZ BE REVOKED WAS NOT UNFOUNDED. -------------------------- COMMENT -------------------------- 6. (C) THIS INCIDENT IS A REMINDER THAT OPPOSITION RANK-AND-FILE ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF VIOLENCE, THOUGH CHAVISTA VIOLENCE AGAINST THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT (E.G., THE JUNE 3 BEATING OF CONGRESSMAN RAFAEL MARIN -- WHICH PUT HIM IN INTENSIVE CARE -- AND GUNSHOTS FIRED THAT DAY MEDIA OFFICES AND THE CARACAS MAYOR'S OFFICE), . IT IS POSSIBLE THE ALTO PRADO PRO-CHAVEZ PRESENCE WAS INITIATED WITH THE HOPE THE ANTI-CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD REACT EMOTIONALLY AND VIOLENTLY TO THE CAMPAIGN WORKERS. WE CAN PROBABLY EXPECT THE CHAVISTAS TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE INCIDENT. CHAVEZ WANTS TO PAINT THE OPPOSITION AS PRONE TO VIOLENCE AND REVENGE, THEREBY CREATING FEAR FOR WHAT WOULD COME SHOULD CHAVEZ BE REVOKED. THIS WILL COMPLICATE THE COORDINADORA DEMOCRATICA'S EFFORTS TO CLAIM THEY ARE FOR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION. SHAPIRO NNNN 2004CARACA02158 - CONFIDENTIAL |