Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS1915
2006-06-26 15:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
VIOLENCE RETURNS TO MERIDA UNIVERSITY
how-toVZCZCXRO0706 PP RUEHAG DE RUEHCV #1915 1771517 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 261517Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5258 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6704 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 5593 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ PRIORITY 2145 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0390 RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 1320 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 3862 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0775 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 2227 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 1024 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0331 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0825 RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001915
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2031
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI VE
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE RETURNS TO MERIDA UNIVERSITY
REF: A. CARACAS 1627
B. CARACAS 1713
Classified By: Mark Wells, A/Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001915
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2031
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI VE
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE RETURNS TO MERIDA UNIVERSITY
REF: A. CARACAS 1627
B. CARACAS 1713
Classified By: Mark Wells, A/Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) After weeks of relative calm following violent
protests by rival student factions at the University of the
Andes (ULA),there was another violent confrontation on June
21, including a shooting. One opposition student leader was
shot, three others were briefly detained, and yet another
remains underground. Pro-government students were
responsible for the escalation in violence. The main
protagonists remain students, but university officials are
now being targeted as well. END SUMMARY
-------------- --------------
ALL OF NIXON'S MEN: PICKING OFF THE STUDENT LEADERS
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Violent protests besieged the University of the
Andes (ULA) in Merida state in May after federal courts
suspended student elections; police intervention left dozens
wounded on both sides (reftel a). Pro-Chavez elements
renewed attacks on student opposition groups on June 21, when
chavista students stormed the ULA campus brandishing
firearms. Upon encountering members of the opposition
Movimiento-13 (M-13),led by Nixon Moreno, the chavistas
opened fire. Alfredo Contreras, an M-13 leader, suffered a
gunshot wound in the leg. The shooter was arrested. The
following day, Bolivarian Circles members stopped three M-13
members riding in a ULA-owned vehicle. Police arrived to
search for weapons, allegedly found none, yet still took the
three M-13 members into custody. One of the arrested was
identified as Moreno aide Laurence Castro. The three
detained were released late on June 22. As of this writing,
Moreno remains in hiding after police accused him last month
of assaulting a police officer (reftel b).
--------------
UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS TARGETED, TOO
--------------
3. (U) On June 22, members of two pro-government groups,
Utopia 78 and the Tupamaros, allegedly physically assaulted
ULA dean Lestor Rodriguez Herrera. The dean was accompanying
the three arrested students in an attempt to vouch that they
were unarmed and not violating any laws. Another university
official, Laura Toro, told the press she feared for her
safety while on campus. Toro proposed a dialogue among
Merida state officials and the various student political
movements. She accused Utopia 78 of being supporters of
pro-government student leader Geyson Guzman (see reftels).
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) Student unrest at the ULA is somewhat more
commonplace and violent than elsewhere in Venezuela. The
latest aggression initiated with the police and chavista
student groups, and targets outspoken student opposition
leaders. Caracas student groups have peacefully assembled in
the name of university autonomy; they have not at this point
shown any propensity toward violence.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2031
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI VE
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE RETURNS TO MERIDA UNIVERSITY
REF: A. CARACAS 1627
B. CARACAS 1713
Classified By: Mark Wells, A/Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) After weeks of relative calm following violent
protests by rival student factions at the University of the
Andes (ULA),there was another violent confrontation on June
21, including a shooting. One opposition student leader was
shot, three others were briefly detained, and yet another
remains underground. Pro-government students were
responsible for the escalation in violence. The main
protagonists remain students, but university officials are
now being targeted as well. END SUMMARY
-------------- --------------
ALL OF NIXON'S MEN: PICKING OFF THE STUDENT LEADERS
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Violent protests besieged the University of the
Andes (ULA) in Merida state in May after federal courts
suspended student elections; police intervention left dozens
wounded on both sides (reftel a). Pro-Chavez elements
renewed attacks on student opposition groups on June 21, when
chavista students stormed the ULA campus brandishing
firearms. Upon encountering members of the opposition
Movimiento-13 (M-13),led by Nixon Moreno, the chavistas
opened fire. Alfredo Contreras, an M-13 leader, suffered a
gunshot wound in the leg. The shooter was arrested. The
following day, Bolivarian Circles members stopped three M-13
members riding in a ULA-owned vehicle. Police arrived to
search for weapons, allegedly found none, yet still took the
three M-13 members into custody. One of the arrested was
identified as Moreno aide Laurence Castro. The three
detained were released late on June 22. As of this writing,
Moreno remains in hiding after police accused him last month
of assaulting a police officer (reftel b).
--------------
UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS TARGETED, TOO
--------------
3. (U) On June 22, members of two pro-government groups,
Utopia 78 and the Tupamaros, allegedly physically assaulted
ULA dean Lestor Rodriguez Herrera. The dean was accompanying
the three arrested students in an attempt to vouch that they
were unarmed and not violating any laws. Another university
official, Laura Toro, told the press she feared for her
safety while on campus. Toro proposed a dialogue among
Merida state officials and the various student political
movements. She accused Utopia 78 of being supporters of
pro-government student leader Geyson Guzman (see reftels).
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) Student unrest at the ULA is somewhat more
commonplace and violent than elsewhere in Venezuela. The
latest aggression initiated with the police and chavista
student groups, and targets outspoken student opposition
leaders. Caracas student groups have peacefully assembled in
the name of university autonomy; they have not at this point
shown any propensity toward violence.
BROWNFIELD