VENEZUELA AND PARAGUAY: ANTI-U.S. BOLIVARIAN EVENT

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000541

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA
NSC FOR KIM BREIER
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR VE PA
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA AND PARAGUAY: ANTI-U.S. BOLIVARIAN EVENT
DRAWS SMALL CROWD, SUPPORT OF MAYORAL ASPIRANT

REF: A. ASUNCION 00487


B. STATE 43965


1. (U) On April 19, PolOff and EconOff attended a public
panel discussion of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela,
organized by the local Paraguayan-Venezuelan cultural
association. The panel comprised two Venezuelans and a
member of Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies, Rafael Filizzola of
the social-democrat oriented Pais Solidario (Country in
Solidarity) party. Filizzola aspires to be Mayor of Asuncion
in 2006. All three speakers used the event to criticize the
U.S. The event was also attended by Senador Domingo Laino,
who is a member of the leftist wing of the Liberal party and
a harsh critic of the U.S., and two members of the Paraguayan
Communist party.


2. (U) The two Venezuelan speakers, Dr. Gabriela Moran and
Ligia Prieto de Centurion, delivered lengthy expositions on
what they described as the unjust and imperialist
exploitation of Latin America by European powers in colonial
times and by the U.S. and other wealthy, powerful countries
in modern times. Moran also accused the U.S. of financing
the April 2002 coup attempt in Venezuela, displaying a
document that purportedly showed that the U.S. funneled USD
20 million to anti-Chavez leaders, demonstrators, and media
outlets through USAID development programs and the like.


3. (U) Filizzola expressed support for the Bolivarian
Revolution as an alternative to the policies of wealthy,
powerful -- and he added "prepotente" (overbearing or
arrogant) -- countries and the IFIs. He pointed to Lula,
Kirchner, and Vazquez's electoral victories as "encouraging"
signs for the region, and praised Chavez's proposals for a
regional news channel and a regional development bank as ways
to "break the imperialist bonds." He also criticized the GOP
for maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, rather than
with mainland China, since, in his opinion, Paraguay "has
much more to learn from (the latter's) economic model."


4. (SBU) Comment: As attendance was light (roughly 30 people)
and there was no press coverage of the discussion, it is
unlikely that the event will have any impact. Filizzola is a
smart, savvy young politician who likely has a long political
career ahead of him, despite his party's limited following
outside Asuncion. In prior meetings with EmbOffs, Filizzola
was more guarded, and therefore seemed less hostile to U.S.
policy. His commentary during the panel discussion was
consistent with positions espoused by other members of Pais
Solidario, and probably more accurately reflects his true
colors. The party's founder and leader is Senator Carlos
Filizzola, Rafael's cousin.
KEANE