Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS3628
2006-12-15 16:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
VENEZUELAN ELECTION SEASON MORE PEACEFUL THAN
how-toVZCZCXRO6530 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHCV #3628 3491641 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151641Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7308 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0684 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2026
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN ELECTION SEASON MORE PEACEFUL THAN
EXPECTED
REF: A. CARACAS 03018
B. CARACAS 02827
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D)
--------------------------------
More Concern than Actual Violence
----------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2026
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN ELECTION SEASON MORE PEACEFUL THAN
EXPECTED
REF: A. CARACAS 03018
B. CARACAS 02827
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D)
--------------
More Concern than Actual Violence
--------------
1. (SBU) Before the December 3 presidential elections,
isolated attacks on opposition challenger Manuel Rosales'
campaign rallies in September and October suggested the
likelihood of an increasing spiral of electoral violence
(reftels). President Chavez' campaign tried to blame the
opposition for inciting the attacks, claiming that Rosales
was campaigning in poor areas considered to be Chavista turf.
However, the resulting negative publicity for Chavez, and
Rosales' refusal to back down from his forays into poor
neighborhoods, encouraged Chavez' Fifth Republic Movement
party to rein in his more radical supporters during the
latter part of the campaign.
2. (SBU) Election day was also remarkably quiet, despite
insistent rumors of plans for unrest. There were isolated
incidents toward the end of election day, such as in western
Miranda State where pro-Chavez supporters on motorcycles
intimidated opposition supporters waiting to watch the manual
count of voting receipts.
3. (SBU) Post election, some took the victory celebrations
too far. For example, overzealous supporters sacked and
burned Rosales' campaign headquarters in Valencia, Carabobo
early December 4. Also on the same day in Caracas, someone
reportedly tried to incite an attack on the home of the
spokeswoman for Rosales' "Mi Negra" program. However, the
would-be attackers' plans were thwarted in part due to the
woman's two large dogs. Despite these examples, most
election day incidents involved alcohol-related accidental
shootings during pro-Chavez victory celebrations and the
random crime that plagues the country.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Rosales' quick concession and his focus on
constitutional reform as the opposition's next priority
helped ease the calm transition to the post-election period.
With the exception of the two incidents mentioned above,
political tension has largely dissipated as the country winds
down for the holidays.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2026
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN ELECTION SEASON MORE PEACEFUL THAN
EXPECTED
REF: A. CARACAS 03018
B. CARACAS 02827
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D)
--------------
More Concern than Actual Violence
--------------
1. (SBU) Before the December 3 presidential elections,
isolated attacks on opposition challenger Manuel Rosales'
campaign rallies in September and October suggested the
likelihood of an increasing spiral of electoral violence
(reftels). President Chavez' campaign tried to blame the
opposition for inciting the attacks, claiming that Rosales
was campaigning in poor areas considered to be Chavista turf.
However, the resulting negative publicity for Chavez, and
Rosales' refusal to back down from his forays into poor
neighborhoods, encouraged Chavez' Fifth Republic Movement
party to rein in his more radical supporters during the
latter part of the campaign.
2. (SBU) Election day was also remarkably quiet, despite
insistent rumors of plans for unrest. There were isolated
incidents toward the end of election day, such as in western
Miranda State where pro-Chavez supporters on motorcycles
intimidated opposition supporters waiting to watch the manual
count of voting receipts.
3. (SBU) Post election, some took the victory celebrations
too far. For example, overzealous supporters sacked and
burned Rosales' campaign headquarters in Valencia, Carabobo
early December 4. Also on the same day in Caracas, someone
reportedly tried to incite an attack on the home of the
spokeswoman for Rosales' "Mi Negra" program. However, the
would-be attackers' plans were thwarted in part due to the
woman's two large dogs. Despite these examples, most
election day incidents involved alcohol-related accidental
shootings during pro-Chavez victory celebrations and the
random crime that plagues the country.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Rosales' quick concession and his focus on
constitutional reform as the opposition's next priority
helped ease the calm transition to the post-election period.
With the exception of the two incidents mentioned above,
political tension has largely dissipated as the country winds
down for the holidays.
BROWNFIELD