CARTER CENTER BALKS AT OBSERVER RULES

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002207 SIPDIS NSC FOR CBARTON USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2014 TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: CARTER CENTER BALKS AT OBSERVER RULES REF: CARACAS 2201 Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, for R easons 1.4 (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Carter Center (TCC) representative Edgardo Mimica told poloffs July 8 TCC will not accept an invitation from the National Electoral Council (CNE) to observe the August 15 presidential recall referendum without agreement to minimum conditions that guarantee the freedom and autonomy of the observers. Mimica said the Carter Center has coordinated its position with the OAS. CNE Director Oscar Battaglini, a Chavista hardliner, plans to limit the number of all observers to 100, provide schedules and escorts for every observer, and prohibit their talking to the press. Despite expressions of support for international observers from President Hugo Chavez and his Comando Maisanta campaign committee, Battaglini seems determined to discourage -- or at least control -- observer participation. End summary. -------------- Carter Center Gets Tough -------------- ¶2. (C) A/DCM and poloff met with Carter Center (TCC) representative Edgardo Mimica July 8 to discuss the National Electoral Council's (CNE) regulations for international observers approved on June 23 (ref). Mimica said, that based on their discussions with the CNE, the Carter Center would not accept an invitation to observe the August 15 presidential recall referendum. Mimica said they would only do so if the CNE agreed to conditions that are basic to any electoral observation. CNE Director Oscar Battaglini, who will oversee international observer participation, indicated he intends to mount "a Chinese elections observation mission," according to Mimica. The CNE plans to invite officials from foreign electoral authorities in the region as well as sympathetic legislators from Europe and Latin America to observe the signature drives and appeals process. (Note: Similar observers made short, protocolary visits to signature sites and the CNE during the appeals process, often praising the CNE's performance to the press and on state media. These observers had no contact with the OAS/TCC missions and did not undertake statistical analyses or quick counts.) ¶3. (C) The Carter Center, according to Mimica, is asking the CNE for conditions that most basic international observation missions enjoy, including free circulation within Venezuela and freedom to make reports to the Venezuelan public and the international community on the referendum process. The Carter Center wants to bring 50 observers and 15 technicians (both informatics and logistical),45 more persons than the CNE is contemplating allowing it. The Carter Center insisted it would need to receive the CNE's invitation by July 9. The TCC also presented 12 technical points that include access to tally sheets from the election tables, access to the electoral registry, and permission to observe the quality control certification of the electoral machines. -------------- Battaglini Plays the Tough -------------- ¶4. (U) The CNE rules established a committee headed by Battaglini and comprised of other CNE directors to be determined and CNE Secretary General William Pacheco. Battaglini harshly criticized the international observers during the signature appeals process, specifically the Carter Center and OAS for being "biased toward the opposition." Battaglini told reporters July 8 he would permit no more than 100 observers, with a limit of 20 per delegation. He said the CNE would provide escorts for all observers, possibly police officials, to ensure security. He assured that observer movements would not be restricted, but insisted they be "programmed" ahead of time. The CNE director emphasized that he wants the observers to show "discretion, objectivity, and respect for our sovereignty." ¶5. (C) Battaglini, a sociology professor with no previous electoral experience, had been a relatively quiet pro-Chavez member of the CNE board since it was inaugurated September ¶2003. (Far to the left, Battaglini had been a close associate of CNE Director Rodriguez's father before his murder by security forces in the 1970s.) Edgardo Mimica opined that Battaglini's new prominence on the observer issue stems from hardline Chavez supporters' irritation with CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez for allowing the referendum to go forward. Battaglini, Mimica said, is seen as "harder than Rodriguez." Mimica said Rodriguez had told him not to worry about Battaglini's program, that the conditions would be worked out once the observers were on the ground. Mimica said they did not trust Rodriguez, or his authority in this area, and therefore decided to put it in writing to the CNE. -------------- But Chavistas Want Observers -------------- ¶6. (C) Mimica said he was puzzled by Battaglini's willingness to risk international observer participation when senior GOV officials have expressed desire to have the observers. He said President Chavez had told Francisco Diez and him July 2 that he wanted international observers present for the referendum. Mimica said he parlayed Chavez's endorsement of observers immediately into a meeting with William Lara, member of the Chavez campaign committee, Comando Maisanta. Lara also told Mimica the Comando supported having observers, confident observation would be necessary to convince the opposition that Chavez beat them fairly in the referendum. -------------- OAS Coordination -------------- ¶7. (C) Mimica said the Carter Center had coordinated its position with the OAS. As poloffs left the meeting with Mimica, in fact, they encountered OAS elections official Edgardo Reis, who confirmed he was aware of the Carter Center's actions. Reis, who worked on the signature drives last year, said he was making a quick visit to talk with the CNE about OAS participation. He said he planned to go to Washington July 9 to brief SYG Gaviria. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Chavez hardliners worry the observers will control or limit the CNE in the referendum. Battaglini seems to be carrying the torch for this faction within Chavismo, playing the "bad cop." Chavez and the Comando Maisanta may talk-the-talk on observers, but Battaglini is squeezing the observers in a torturous negotiation in the meantime. In the end, the GOV may not exclude the Carter Center and OAS from the process, but making things difficult diminishes the potential effectiveness of the observers. McFarland NNNN 2004CARACA02207 - CONFIDENTIAL