Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CARACAS1235
2005-04-26 19:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

CHAVEZ CELEBRATES APRIL 13 ANNIVERSARY

Tags:  PGOV PREL VE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001235 

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CELEBRATES APRIL 13 ANNIVERSARY


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

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001235

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CELEBRATES APRIL 13 ANNIVERSARY


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

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Summary
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1. (U) President Hugo Chavez celebrated the third anniversary
of his return to power of 2002, after a two-day temporary
ouster, with three commemorative acts on April 13. While
swearing in what the GOV claimed were approximately 29,000
new military reservists in Caracas, Chavez explained his
vision of a civil-military union and praised Latin America
for affirming its own vision in the Organization of American
States' elections for Secretary General despite U.S.
pressure. During the inauguration of the third "Conference
on World Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution" the same
day, Chavez called for a new 21st century socialism and
alleged that the U.S. has plans to destabilize Venezuela and
to ensure he was not reelected in 2006. The grand finale was
a Chavez speech to several thousand Chavez in downtown
Caracas. All of Venezuela's television and radio stations
broadcast the more than seven hours of speeches by Chavez, as
mandated by the GOV. End Summary.


2. (U) President Hugo Chavez and his supporters celebrated
the third anniversary of his return to power of 2002 with
commemorative acts on April 13. Dressed in the new
Venezuelan military uniform, Chavez swore in what the GOV
claimed were approximately 29,000 new military reservists at
Caracas's armed forces headquarters. (Note: In his "Alo,
Presidente" speech April 17, Chavez approximated 20,000
reservisits.) In a two-hour national broadcast over all of
the country's radio and television stations, Chavez said he
was looking to create a civic-military union to fortify the
physical and moral fiber of the country. The reserves are a
strategic resource for national independence, Chavez
asserted. To keep his promise for better funding, Chavez
said, he was raising the stipend each reservist received for
training days to 16,000 bolivares (approximately USD 8). He
also criticized the U.S., claiming the USG had pressured
other countries to influence the Organization of American
States' (OAS) elections for Secretary General, but had been
met by a solid and dignified Latin America with its own
vision.


3. (U) Chavez later inaugurated the third "Conference on
World Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution" with a
three-hour speech also broadcast on every Venezuelan radio
and television station by GOV mandate. Having changed out of
his military uniform and into a suit, he reiterated his call
to the people of the world for a new socialism, adapted to
the 21st century, to resolve the underdeveloped world's ills.
Transitioning from anti-capitalism and allusions to obvious
anti-American statements, Chavez claimed he was going to
spoil the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon's plan
to poison him, create a crisis in Venezuela, and ensure he is
not reelected in 2006. He labeled Plan Colombia part of the
plan, and pointed out that some of his supporters were
preparing for a guerrilla war in case the U.S. invaded.


4. (C) Speaking before a crowd of several thousand supporters
in downtown Caracas that evening, Chavez praised the economic
recovery and the increase in petroleum revenue. Once again
holding the national audience captive by broadcasting on all
radio and television stations, Chavez patted himself on the
back for raising the petroleum royalties for foreign
companies producing heavy crude in the Orinoco region from 1
to 16.6 percent, thereby gaining an extra 2.5 billion
dollars. He assured his supporters that petroleum income was
being used to support the missions and for other strategic
public projects. Continuing on his economic theme, he said
he hoped to raise the minimum wage to at least 400,000
bolivares (approximately USD 200) or as high as he possibly
could. Two Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) contacts told
Poloff they had been "strongly urged" to attend the event.

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Comment
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5. (C) With over seven hours of broadcast speeches, Chavez
made the most of his anniversary celebration. Again pitting
Venezuela as David versus the big U.S. imperialist Goliath,
Chavez tried to use the OAS elections to depict another
vitory for Venezuela. His expected anti-U.S. rhetoric
specifically alluded to the CIA and Pentagon being involved
in plans to destabilize Venezuela and make sure he was not
reelected in 2006. Chavez counterweighted his negative
anti-American message with praise for his own government and
its plans to fight poverty and social ills in Venezuela and
abroad with oil money and "new socialism." While Chavez
showed his pride in the new reserves, DAO noted that the
20,000 included both reservists and active duty units
recruited to beef up the visuals of the event.
Brownfield


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2005CARACA01235 - CONFIDENTIAL