BISHOPS URGE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND CLEAN ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002266

SIPDIS


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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: BISHOPS URGE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND CLEAN ELECTION


Classified By: A/DCM Abelardo A. Arias, for Reason 1.4 (d)

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Summary
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1. (U) The Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV),comprised
of Venezuela's Catholic bishops, July 12 exhorted all actors
participating in the August 15 presidential recall referendum
to act ethically. The bishops also urged them to ensure that
the process remains free of corruption and fraud so that the
results, regardless of whom wins, are accepted without
violence, and all voters participate in the referendum. The
statement will be read during mass at all Catholic churches
on July 18. Chavez supporters reacted with allegations that
the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is taking an
inappropriate role in politics. End Summary.

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CHURCH STATEMENT RELEASED
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2. (U) The Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV) issued a
15-point statement on July 12 urging voters to participate in
the August 15 recall referendum against President Hugo
Chavez. CEV President and Archbishop of Merida, Baltasar
Porras, called on Venezuelan society to eradicate intolerance
and exclusion, saying that at least minimum agreement was
needed to build democracy. The document calls upon the
military, political leaders, the media and telecommunications
industry, and international observers to do their part in
ensuring that the Revocatory Referendum process is
transparent and just. It also specifically exhorts the
National Electoral Council (CNE) to act impartially and to
present the results of the referendum in a transparent
manner. The CEV statement will be read to parishioners during
Sunday mass July 18.


3. (U) Ramon Viloria, Bishop of Puerto Cabello said, "We are
calling for transparency precisely because of the atmosphere
that has been growing. We are bringing it to light now
because we want absolutely no obstacles of any kind when the
will of the people is manifest. That is why we are simply
putting out a warning so that no organization, in this case
the CNE, hampers the fulfillment of the will of the people."

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CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS REACT
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4. (U) Chavez supporters denounced the report as evidence of
the Church's bias against Chavez. Willian Lara, National
Assembly deputy for Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement (MVR)
said, "As a Venezuelan Catholic I am asking the bishops to
understand that the Catholic Church belongs to the people of
God and not to the clergy no matter how high their position.
Neither the church nor it's leadership, like the CEV, should
be used for political campaigning that favors one side over
another." Lara also called Porras a "politician in a
hassock." MVR deputy Darios Vivas said the CEV should have
warned the opposition parties, as they are the ones prone to
violate Venezuelan law. Vivas accused the Church's leadership
of having participated in the events of April 2002. In a
later statement, Vice-President Jose Vincente Rangel reminded
reporters that all Venezuelans are part of the Catholic
"flock" despite their diverse ways of thinking. He urged the
Church to avoid taking political sides.

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Comment
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5. (C) Chavez's government and the CEV have a history of
finding themselves at odds. The leadership of the Catholic
Church has issued similar statements in the past, most
recently in anticipation of the Reparo vote in May 2004.
Chavez supporters have responded and continue to respond by
attacking the Catholic Church leadership and appealing to

ordinary Catholics to not allow themselves to be manipulated.
McFarland


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2004CARACA02266 - CONFIDENTIAL