COVERING VENEZUELA'S RECALL REFERENDUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002591

SIPDIS


NSC FOR C. BARTON
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: COVERING VENEZUELA'S RECALL REFERENDUM


Classified By: Political Counselor Abelardo A. Arias for reason 1.4 (d)
.


1. (C) Embassy Caracas will field informal observers to
cover the presidential recall referendum August 15 in and
around the capital, Maracaibo and Puerto LaCruz as well as
Carabobo and Aragua States. Lacking National Electoral
Council credentials for access to voting centers, our
observers will seek to obtain information indirectly through
conversations with local political leaders and accredited
observers if the opportunity arises. They will also provide
a first hand, on-the-street perspective of the voting.


2. (SBU) As of 0800 local on August 15, Embassy watch will
commence in Political Section. After an initial e-mail
report on overnight developments and the opening of the
voting day, we will transmit reporting cable at mid-day.
Other cable and e-mail reports as necessary will follow
during the day. (Voting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m.
and concludes at 4:00 p.m. or when the last person in line
votes. CNE President Francisco Carrasquero told reporters
August 10 the CNE plans to have the first results a few hours
after polls close.)


3. (SBU) Additionally, Embassy will be supporting Codel
Weller which arrives the afternoon of August 14, and the
visit of former President Jimmy Carter, who arrives August

13. We have asked for CNE credentials for all Codel Weller
members to be official observers. (Two of the five
congressmen already have CNE invitations to be observers).
Ambassador and DCM will accompany the Codel as they visit
voting centers in Caracas, should the CNE extend the
invitations as requested.
Shapiro


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2004CARACA02591 - CONFIDENTIAL