OPPOSITION MAYOR LOPEZ HELD FOR TWO HOURS BY GUNMEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000399 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: OPPOSITION MAYOR LOPEZ HELD FOR TWO HOURS BY GUNMEN Classified By: A/POLCOUNS MARK WELLS FOR 1.4 (D) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On February 10, 20 armed gunmen forced their way into a college seminar at the University of Carabobo in which Chacao Mayor Leopoldo Lopez was speaking and threatened the mayor for nearly two hours. Government officials refused to respond, citing legal prohibitions from entering college campuses, and university officials intervened only after students negotiated safe departure for Lopez and Primero Justicia party leaders from Carabobo State. The Spanish Ambassador tried to intervene with national government officials, Spanish diplomats told us. There were reports that some reporters were injured by tear gas and rocks; the assailants reportedly demanded video shot of the incident. Lopez is a frequent target of Chavista aggression, though this incident is disturbing for its blatant violence. End Summary. -------------- Lopez Taken Hostage -------------- ¶2. (U) On February 10, Leopoldo Lopez, mayor of the Caracas municipality of Chacao and a leader of the opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ),was scheduled to address some 700 students in the political science department of the University of Carabobo (located in Valencia) on the topic of youth participation in politics. The seminar was interrupted, however, by a group of 20 men wearing ski masks and t-shirts that suggested their membership in the pro-government party Podemos and armed with shotguns, handguns and tear gas canisters. According to Lopez, the men, who he claims arrived in BRV vehicles, wanted to prevent him from speaking to the student group. When some of the gunmen fired their weapons and released tear gas, Lopez' security staff rushed him to one of the back offices. With the gunmen outside, Lopez and some PJ leaders from Carabobo were trapped in the room for nearly two hours. During this time the armed group pounded on the door and passed out fliers claiming that Lopez was an agent of the CIA. -------------- Help Nowhere to be Seen -------------- ¶3. (C) Speaking to the press by telephone throughout the incident, Lopez complained that government officials failed to come to his rescue. (We also heard from the Spanish Embassy that their ambassador had called Minister of Interior Jesse Chacon to plead on behalf of Lopez, though, it seems, to no avail.) The university rector also refused to intervene, according to Lopez, though the rector later condemned the gunmen's actions. After the students negotiated directly with university administrators, college security appeared and escorted the armed group off campus. (Note: University officials resorted to the excuse that Venezuelan law prohibits state security forces from entering the campus, though we can think of multiple examples to the contrary. Lopez reportedly departed for Madrid the following day to participate in a previously organized program sponsored by the Government of Spain, which may have prompted its Ambassador's involvement. PJ has a close relationship with the Spanish Embassy. End Note.) -------------- Press Aggression -------------- ¶4. (U) According to press reports, reporters were excluded CARACAS 00000399 002 OF 002 from the scene and at least two of them were injured by the gunmen during the incident, both from thrown rocks and tear gas. The armed group reportedly demanded, but did not receive, the videos captured by reporters when the siege began. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Lopez is a frequent target of Chavista harassment because of his public image as a young, hard-working opposition mayor. The BRV likely views him as an up-and-coming opposition leader and either encouraged or ordered such an attack. As we reported in November 2005, (reftel) the Controller General suspended Lopez from holding future political office based on seemingly spurious charges and this seems to be a continuation of the same effort to neutralize his political strength. At the very least, the BRV's indifference to Lopez' safety during this attack suggests its tacit approval. The blatant and violent nature of the attack is disturbing, however, and illustrates the personal risks run by Chavez critics. BROWNFIELD