OPPOSITION LEADER DETAINED AT AIRPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002286

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER VE
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER DETAINED AT AIRPORT


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Venezuelan National Guard and Intelligence Services
(DISIP) officers temporarily detained Tulio Alvarez_, the head
of the opposition group Verdad Venezuela, at the airport in
Maracaibo July 27 as he was departing for Caracas. Minister
of the Interior Jesse Chacon claimed that security forces
stopped Alvarez_ because he was traveling in a stolen car and
carrying arms illegally. Alvarez_ denied the charges and
alleged that he had been followed by state security forces
during his visit to the region. He accused Chacon of
harassment, and the GOV of persecuting members of the
opposition to stifle political resistance. End summary.


2. (U) A combined force of fourteen National Guard and DISIP
agents detained Tulio Alvarez_, the head of the opposition
group Verdad Venezuela, at the airport in Maracaibo July 27,
according to press reports. Minister of the Interior Chacon
told reporters security forces stopped Alvarez_ because he was
traveling in a car listed as stolen in police systems and
carrying arms illegally. The local Commander of the National
Guard, General Castor Perez Leal, reiterated Chacon's claims
and called the detention routine. Perez said that after
security forces stopped the car, they received information
from the DISIP that Alvarez_ was armed and proceeded to
attempt to conduct an inspection, however, Alvarez_ refused to
cooperate.


3. (U) Alvarez_ told reporters that he refused to open his
luggage or be taken to the National Guard's offices for an
interrogation without the presence of a prosecutor. It is no
coincidence, he said, that security forces were waiting to
detain him at the airport. He alleged he had been followed
by security forces during all his visit to Zulia State and
that hotel personnel had informed him about suspicious
inquiries as to when he was leaving for the airport. During
some of his detention, Alvarez_ spoke live, on the air to
Caracas' largest radio station.


4. (C) Alvarez_ sent a more detailed description of security
force harassment to the Embassy as a precaution the morning
of July 27 prior to his detainment at the airport. He said
he was followed to his meetings July 26, and that when he
arrived back at his hotel, hotel personnel told him a bell
boy had been asked by unidentified men whether he had arrived
for the night yet. On the morning of July 27, someone
claiming to work in the hotel reception called to ask when he
needed a taxi to the airport, however when he went down to
the reception area, hotel personnel working reception told
him they had not called. He ended his note saying "I am
sending this message so that (you) will know what is
happening, but do not make it public. This is simply a
precaution. They are hunting me."


5. (C) Alvarez_ connected his alleged persecution in Zulia
with the GOV's treatment of opposition forces in Venezuela
declaring to the press that "It is the way this regime
harasses people who oppose it politically." He called upon
Minister of the Interior Chacon to cease his efforts to
stifle Alvarez_'s work as the head of Verdad Venezuela.
Alvarez_ told PolCouns July 28 that he was convinced that the
authorities were prepared to plant weapons on him. "That's
why I raised such a fuss," he said. Alavarez said the
present interest in him is related more to what he saw during
this trip to the Venezuelan side of the Perija mountain
range. He said that in his political meetings participants
gave him precise information about which ranches the FARC is
using and details about the logistical network.

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Comment
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6. (C) Tulio Alvarez_'s arbitrary detention and harassment
during his trip to Zulia State clearly signal that the GOV is
not going to give the opposition free rein. Alvarez_ has been
traveling regularly for months in the provinces with an
anti-GOV message, and has faced some harassment, but this is
the first time the security forces have acted blatantly. With
the appeal of his conviction for defaming MVR National
Assembly deputy William Lara still pending, Alvarez_ is likely

to face further harassment.
Brownfield


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