Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS1085
2006-04-24 20:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

STUDENTS "LAY DOWN FOR LIFE", POLITICS AS USUAL

Tags:  PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3109
PP RUEHAO
DE RUEHCV #1085/01 1142029
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 242029Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4202
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 5395
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0135
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA PRIORITY 0889
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ PRIORITY 1914
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0137
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 3088
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 1150
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 3696
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY 0827
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 1069
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0414
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 1993
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0605
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 0130
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO PRIORITY 0754
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 0426
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHMI/USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE PRIORITY 3011
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001085 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TP AID/OTI RPORTER
FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE
SUBJECT: STUDENTS "LAY DOWN FOR LIFE", POLITICS AS USUAL
FOR OPPOSITION AND CHAVISTAS

REF: CARACAS 01064

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Downes for reasons 1.4 (d).

------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001085

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TP AID/OTI RPORTER
FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE
SUBJECT: STUDENTS "LAY DOWN FOR LIFE", POLITICS AS USUAL
FOR OPPOSITION AND CHAVISTAS

REF: CARACAS 01064

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Downes for reasons 1.4 (d).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) On April 22, streets throughout Caracas were overtaken
by three separate protests; the most organized of the three
led by university students protesting deteriorating public
security conditions in Venezuela and the other two by
pro-government and opposition factions. Despite competing
events, the student-led initiative garnered the support of
thousands of concerned Venezuelans, including Chacao Mayor
Leopoldo Lopez. Lopez praised the efforts of student
organizers but criticized opposition and pro-government
political parties for holding parallel marches. Although
there were no reported injuries, Chacao police were called to
mediate a confrontation between pro-government and opposition
supporters at Plaza Indio in Chacaito. Minister of Interior
and Justice Jesse Chacon told local press sources that
Venezuela's current security situation did not surface under
Chavez' leadership but more than two decades earlier. Chacon
added the government's "doors were open" to the public's
suggestions for improving security conditions throughout the
country. End Summary.

--------------
STREETS LINED WITH BODIES AND CHALK OUTLINES
--------------


2. (U) When the trumpet sounded at approximately 10:00 am on
April 22, thousands of university students and their
supporters lay down on the asphalt in Francisco Plaza and
allowed their silhouettes to be outlined in chalk on the
pavement. A dramatic but peaceful gesture, participants of
the April 22 student-led demonstration entitled "Laying Down
For Life" hoped to draw the government's attention to
deteriorating security conditions in Venezuela, which have
resulted in the deaths of 67,000 Venezuelans in past years
(ref A). Although the Venezuelan opposition blames current

security conditions on Chavez' administration, Minister of
Interior and Justice Jesse Chacon maintains the situation
began more than two decades ago. Chacon announced April 22
the BRV is planning to host a public forum on April 27 to
develop strategies for improving public safety. The
government's "doors were open", Chacon added, to public
suggestions. Chacao Mayor Leopoldo Lopez, who promised April
19 that 400 Chacao police would provide security for the
student-organized event, participated in the demonstration
and told reporters April 22 that students had achieved their
goals and objectives despite parallel marches held by
opposition and pro-government supporters. Local station
Globovision provided comprehensive coverage of the event.

-------------- --------------
OPPOSITION SPLITS OVER SUPPORT FOR AN AND STUDENT MARCHES
-------------- --------------


3. (C) On April 19, student leaders gathered with opposition
party leaders to sort out the competing events (ref A).
Traditional opposition leaders were split between proceeding
with their own march to the National Assembly (AN) and
joining the student demonstration. Although initially denied
permission to march to the National Assembly on April 22, the
opposition finally received the government's approval on

CARACAS 00001085 002 OF 002


April 20. As a result, traditional opposition parties Copei,
Accion Democratica (AD) and Bandera Roja announced April 21
that the march to protest electoral conditions would proceed
as planned. Overall participation for the opposition's march
was dismally low and in the end, several parties decided to
support the students' initiatives instead of marching to the
National Assembly. Many opposition supporters likened the
outcome to poor planning on the group's behalf. Mayor Lopez
criticized opposition and pro-government supporters for
diverting participation from the student march.


-------------- --------------
CHAVISTA AGENDA: ANTI-IMPERIALISM, SOVEREIGNTY, SECURITY
-------------- --------------


4. (U) Approximately 2000 pro-government demonstrators,
including students from the University of Carabobo, National
Experimental University of Francisco, and the Bolivarian
University of Zulia as well as officials from the National
Youth Institute, gathered 11:00 am on April 22 at Plaza Tres
Gracias before proceeding to the Ministry of Interior and
Justice (MIJ) where organizers presented Minister Chacon with
a proposal for enhancing public security. Guided by the
sounds of festive drums and music, the demonstration was
reminiscent of a carnival celebration. Despite the festive
atmosphere, however, organizers underscored the march was in
defense of Venezuela's sovereignty, against imperialism, and
for peace and improved public security measures. Student
organizers had asked pro-government and opposition factions,
in advance, to put aside their political differences for the
day but supporters from both camps clashed at Plaza Indio in
Chacaito. There were, however, no reported injuries.


5. (U) Most pro-government participants wore the traditional
red shirts associated with the revolution and boasted of
Chavez' 10 million vote victory objective for the upcoming
presidential elections. There was also no shortage of
propaganda broadcasted during commercial breaks on
government-owned television station Venezuelan Television
(VTV). VTV aired clips of Chavez' 2005 visit to Parana,
Brazil where he denounced the "capitalist" model of
development, and his most recent calls for regional, economic
integration.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) It is not likely that public demonstrations against
deteriorating social and economic conditions in Venezuela
will diminish in the near future, especially since the 2006
Presidential election is right around the corner. While
declaring victory, the student turnout, though impressive and
maybe reaching 20,000, was below the announced numerical
objectives of demonstration organizers. At the same time,
Venezuela's opposition and pro-government parties were both
guilty of attempting to upstage the efforts of university
students on April 22 to advance their political agendas; a
move which probably served to benefit the government more
than its citizens. The unfortunate reality is that as long
as social problems continue to be examined along party lines,
the BRV is not likely to take a serious, in-depth look at its
shortcomings or to make long-term steps to improving them.
BROWNFIELD