ADVANCING THE REVLUTION: BRINGING THE ATTORNEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000620

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLD
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER
FBI CT DIVISION/OO FOR NGAMBA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS VE
SUBJECT: ADVANCING THE REVLUTION: BRINGING THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE T HEEL


CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B
) AND (D)


1. (C ON FEBRUARY 18, CARMEN ALGUINDIGUE, DIRECTOR OF
PROCEDURAL ACTION AND ONE OF THREE KEY CAREER EMPLOEES IN
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WAS FIRED. ACCORDING TO
LEGATT, AT LEAST TWO MORE TOP EMPLYEES IN THE ORGANIZATION
WILL BE FIRED AS PART O A STRATEGY TO FORCE THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFIE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF PRESIDENT
CHAVEZ.

2. (C) IN MID-FEBRUARY, SOURCES TOLD LEGATT THAT TTORNEY
GENERAL ISAIAS RODRIGUEZ ANNOUNCED A SHIT IN POLICY TO
MANIPULATE CASE INVESTIGATIONS TOFAVOR GOV INTERESTS. ANY
CASES BROUGHT AGAINST HE CHAVEZ GOVERNMENT WOULD BE HANDLED
IN SUCH A MNNER THAT THE OUTCOMES WOULD NOT EMBARRASS OR
DAAGE THE GOV. SEVERAL SENIOR OFFICIALS, INCLUDING
ALGUINDIGUE, OBJECTED TO WHAT THEY VIEWED AS A POICY OF
POLITICAL FAVORITISM AND WERE CONSEQUENTL INFORMED THEY
WOULD BE REPLACED BY CHAVEZ SUPPORERS BY MARCH 1. AMONG
THOSE WHO EXPECT TO BE FIED ARE RAMON MEDINA, DIRECTOR OF
CRIMINAL PROSECTIONS, AND MAGALY MALPICA, CHIEF OF THE
DIRECTORTE OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. MEDINA OVERSEES 70
PECENT OF THE COUNTRY'S PUBLIC PROSECUTORS. MALPICA S IN
CHARGE OF INVESTIGATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACUSED OF ABUSE OF
AUTHORITY AND/OR VIOLATING THE IGHTS OF OTHERS. MEDINA AND
ALGUINDIGUE WERE KE CONTACTS FOR LEGATT AND NAS.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) BY REMOVING THESE OFFICIALS, TH CHAVEZ GOVERNMENT IS
DISMANTLING THE LAST BULWAK OF INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY IN
THE ATTORNEY GENRAL'S OFFICE. ALTHOUGH LEGATT EXPECTS
CONTINUIN COOPERATION FROM VENEZUELAN LAW ENFORCEMENT ON
TRICTLY CRIMINAL MATTERS, COOPERATION IN POLITICALL
SENSITIVE CASES WILL LIKELY BE MINIMAL AT BEST. IN ADDITION,
LEGATT IS PESSIMISTIC REGARDING TH EMBASSY'S FUTURE ABILITY
TO INFLUENCE INSTITUTINAL REFORM IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE, ESPCIALLY THROUGH US-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS.
SHAPIR

NNNN
2004CARACA00620 - CONFIDENTIAL