GOV HOLDS TIPS HEARING IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001635 SIPDIS NSC FOR CBARTON USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN VE SUBJECT: GOV HOLDS TIPS HEARING IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, for Reason 1.4 (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) At the behest of Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.S. Bernardo Alvarez, National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee president Saul Ortega (MVR),convened a hearing May 25 on organized crime, particularly trafficking in persons. In addition to poloffs, three National Assembly deputies and some pro-Chavez media were present. Vice Minister of Interior and Justice Alcides Rondon Rivero read a report outlining the GOV's legislative efforts, intentions to investigate trafficking, information campaigns, and prevention and assistance hotlines and alternatives. Much of what Rondon described was either future planning or loosely related to trafficking. International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Director Marisol Fuves, whose organization Rondon cited in the report, was unaware of the hearing. She described initial conversations with the GOV, but no agreements or formal requests, and was also unaware of some of the GOV's reported outreach programs. End Summary. -------------- Who Attended -------------- ¶2. (U) At the behest of the Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.S., Bernardo Alvarez, the president of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee, Saul Ortega (MVR, Carabobo),formally invited Embassy representatives to attend a hearing on organized crime, particularly trafficking in persons. Ortega chaired the hearing held in the National Assembly May 25, where the Ministry of Interior and Justice's Vice-Minister for Citizen Security Alcides Rondon Rivero described the GOV's efforts on trafficking, money laundering and corruption. National Assembly deputies Henry Jose Tachinamo Garcia (MVR Anzoategui),Henry Baldayo Lopez (MVR, Falcon),and Maris Eizaga (MVR, Falcon) attended. An alternate deputy, Josefina del Valle Serrano Prieto (MVR, Miranda),also attended. A Canadian journalist was reportedly in attendance as were some pro-Chavez media outlets. -------------- What Was Said -------------- ¶3. (U) After a review of national and international laws and conventions dealing with trafficking in persons and organized crime, Rondon read a report prepared by the Ministry of Interior and Justice about the steps Venezuela has taken against trafficking in persons. The steps include: --Formally requesting the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the design and execution of an investigation on the trafficking phenomenon in Caracas and along the border. Regional governments, he said, are also allegedly designing and conducting their own research into trafficking in conjunction with regional universities. --The Ministry of Interior in conjunction with other ministries, NGOs, and the IOM is leading the discussion (unspecified) on agreements for awareness training for public employees. --Giving awareness talks to over 3,000 persons in the "popular" sectors about drugs, violence and trafficking. --Surveying approximately 2,400 persons in Caracas to identify possible victims. --Visiting and assessing the needs of 15 education centers to identify problems of violence, drugs, and trafficking. In the last part of 2005, 15 more centers are to be included. --Conducting an information campaign through "alternative and community media" sources. --Integrating police, migration, and missing persons databases, and increasing border controls. --Implementing the Plan for Citizen Security (which claims to address problems associated with violence),including an "800-CONTIGO" hotline to address problems of child abuse, violence against women, prostitution, drugs and trafficking, among other crimes. (Comment: The 800-CONTIGO hotline is in addition to the "800-MUJERES" hotline that deals with violence against women and has been available for several years.) The Attorney General's office also offers an 800 number answered by the Victim Attention unit and web page for crimes to be reported. Rondon also outlined international and bilateral efforts on trafficking. A copy of the 14-page Spanish report will be faxed to: 202-312-9637. -------------- Follow-Up Conversations -------------- ¶4. (C) Poloff asked IOM Regional Director Marisol Fuves May 27 about the investigation project Rondon claimed the GOV had formally requested. Fuves said she spoke with the Director for Crime Prevention Lilian Aya May 10 about the possibility of such a project, but was still waiting for a formal request. Fuves said she was uncertain about the parameters of the project and its funding. She had no knowledge of the National Assembly hearing, nor was she aware of some of the projects mentioned by Rondon, including hotlines like the 800-CONTIGO. ¶5. (C) Poloff called the 800-CONTIGO hotline May 27 for additional information. A National Guard member answered and told poloff that the National Guard has been in charge of the hotline since its inception about six months ago. The forthcoming guard said National Guard Brigade General Freddy Oswaldo Waldron Diaz is in charge of the program. He noted the hotline is available to offer information on almost any kind of crime including drugs, domestic or child abuse, prostitution, violence, kidnapping or extortion, etc, which would then be reported to the police for record keeping purposes. When asked if any calls about trafficking in persons had been received, the guard seemed uncertain. After poloff briefly described possible trafficking scenarios, the guard said he could not specifically remember any case, but he thought a few similar calls had been received. Asked about what kind of information the hotline could offer potential victims who called, the guard described a legal process, referring potential victims to the Attorney General's office, who would contact the police to open an investigation. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The National Assembly hearing seemed to have been put on for the Embassy's benefit, as we were the only international or diplomatic representatives present. The five deputies present represented far less than a quorum for the session to be considered official. There was a weak showing of interest from only 4 MVR deputies for a hearing reportedly put on for their benefit. Pro-Chavez media outlet "Venezuelanalysis.com" published an article May 27 about the hearing, appearing to lay the groundwork for an attack should Venezuela remain Tier 3. The report issued by the Ministry of Interior and Justice at the hearing includes plans in the works, and a collection of other crime prevention or education measures that the GOV has put on that also minimally include trafficking. Brownfield NNNN 2005CARACA01635 - CONFIDENTIAL