WOMEN'S GROUPS REGISTER SUPPORT FOR SECRETARY RICE

UNCLAS CARACAS 000324

SIPDIS

NSC FOR TSHANNON AND CBARTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KWMN PHUM VE
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S GROUPS REGISTER SUPPORT FOR SECRETARY RICE

REF: A. CARACAS 00252

B. WELLS/COLLINS EMAIL 1/28


1. (U) Leaders of women's rights groups came to the Embassy
on January 28 to deliver a letter repudiating the comments
made by President Hugo Chavez about Secretary-Designate Rice
during a rally on January 23 (ref a). The letter is signed
by the National Women's Front, a group of 26 organizations
largely affiliated with opposition political parties, labor,
business, and civil society groups. Poloff accepted the
letter on behalf of the Ambassador. Post e-mailed an
electronic copy of the letter in Spanish to WHA/AND.


2. (U) Begin Embassy translation of text of letter:

National Women's Front


Caracas, January 27,2005



Mr. Ambassador of the United States of America
William R. Brownfield
Your Office

Your Excellency, receive our greeting,

We are writing to inform you that the National Women's Front
of Venezuela, representing an important group of women
leaders of democratic political parties and civil society
groups of our country, decided to send, through you and the
other members of the U.S. Embassy, to Ms. Conoleeza Rice,
Secretary of State and senior representative of American

SIPDIS
diplomacy, our excuses regarding the inconsiderate, obscene,
and lewd statements made against her last Sunday by President
Chavez during a public speech.

This is not the first time that the President has exhibited
such behavioral traits without restraint in the media,
offending the dignity of our people with such shameful
behavior, which has even affected his own wife and degraded
the presidential office.

The democratic women of Venezuela do hereby state that we
reject not only such disrespectful language but we especially
reject the sexist, macho, and authoritarian concept hidden
behind it that we have tried to eradicate with our struggle
to reach true gender equality in our country and in the world.

With our respectful consideration, we remain, very truly
yours,

The National Women's Front:

The women of

AD, COPEI, Red Flag, Project Venezuela, Movement to
Socialism, Brave People's Alliance, Movement of Labor, URD,
United Democratic Women, Women of Petroleum, Women United and
Organized for Venezuela, Watchmen for Democracy, Ecological
Guardians, Venezuela Is All Of Us, People of Education,
CISFEM, Woman and Community, Argelia Laya Women's House
Foundation, Women of the Federation of Construction Workers,
Women of the Venezuelan Workers Confederation, Women of the
Campesino Federation, Women of the State of Falcon, Women of
the State of Tachira, Women of the State of Monogas, Women of
the State of Bolivar, and Women of the State of Anzoategui.

Witnesses:
(48 signatures of representatives of the above groups)

BROWNFIELD