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).

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Summary
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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.

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Carter Center Gets Tough
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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.

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Battaglini Plays the Tough
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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.

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But Chavistas Want Observers
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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.

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OAS Coordination
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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.

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Comment
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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


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