Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04CARACAS947
2004-03-19 21:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

NUMBER THREE PROSECUTOR BECOMES CHAVEZ POLITICAL

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000947 

SIPDIS


NSC FOR TSHANNON AND CBARTON
USCINSO ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: NUMBER THREE PROSECUTOR BECOMES CHAVEZ POLITICAL
CASUALTY

REF: A. CARACAS 00620


B. CARACAS 00882

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

--------
Summary:
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000947

SIPDIS


NSC FOR TSHANNON AND CBARTON
USCINSO ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: NUMBER THREE PROSECUTOR BECOMES CHAVEZ POLITICAL
CASUALTY

REF: A. CARACAS 00620


B. CARACAS 00882

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

--------------
Summary:
--------------


1. (C) Carmen Alguindigue, the former number three prosecutor
in the Attorney General's Office, said March 17 she was fired
for refusing to support the Chavez political agenda. The
increasing number of politically-motivated firings in
government will further weaken the nation's institutions, she
said. She said Vice President Jose Vincente Rangel "was
lying" March 16 when he declared that no human rights
complaints had been lodged with law enforcement groups, but
she understands that prosecutors have taken little or no
action to look into the allegations of human rights abuses.
Alguindigue's firing is an example of further weakened
Venezuelan institutions, and the GoV consolidating power
throught non-executive branch institutions. End Summary.

-------------- --
Prosecutor Pushed Out For Resisting Chavez Line
-------------- --


2. (C) Carmen Alguindigue, former Chief of Procedural Action
for the Attorney General's Office (Fiscalia),and a long-time
contact of the Embassy's NAS, PAS and Legatt sections, told
poloff March 17 that she was fired February 18 as part of a
sweep against top Fiscalia managers who resisted policy
decisions supporting the Chavez political agenda (reftels).
Alguindigue, who held the number three slot in the Attorney
General's Office, said she had been warned personally by
Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez to "find ways to cooperate"
with GoV directives, and Rodriguez routinely called to press
her to make decisions on cases effecting GoV interests.
While she didn't confront Rodriguez, or defy him outright,
she said it became more and more obvious that she was not
following his instructions. The decision to dismiss her, she
said, was obviously politically motivated. Rodriguez made
the decision, but Alguindigue is sure there was pressure from
GoV officials like Vice President Rangel.

--------------
Political Firings Weaken Institutions
--------------


3. (C) Alguindigue worked as a prosecutor for six years,
including during the events of April 2002. She viewed
herself as part of a new group of prosecutors who recognized
their institutional role in the government, and who worked to
keep the institution transparent, independent and responsible
under the law. She asserted that the increasing number of
politically-motivated firings in government will further
weaken the nation's institutions, which are already weak
under Chavez.

-------------- --------------
Few Human Rights Investigations Due to GoV Pressure
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Alguindigue also was in charge of overseeing
investigations into alleged GoV human rights abuses. She
said Vice President Jose Vincente Rangel "was lying" March 16
when he declared that no human rights complaints had been
lodged. She noted that Rangel's list of law enforcement
agencies did not include the Attorney General's Office, which
is the central authority for human rights investigations.
Nevertheless, she understands from her contacts in the
Attorney General's Office that prosecutors have taken little
to no action to look into the many human rights abuses. The
GoV, she said, has effectively closed the investigating
institutions.

--------------
Comment:


--------------


5. (C) Alguindigue's departure from the Attorney General's
Office is yet another brush stroke in the bleak portrait
being painted of weakened Venezuelan institutions and a GoV
increasingly consolidating power in the executive. Her
absence is likely to reduce the chances of opening
investigations into alleged human rights abuses and their
effective prosecution.
SHAPIRO


NNNN

2004CARACA00947 - CONFIDENTIAL