Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GUATEMALA472
2006-03-08 18:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
GUATEMALAN OPPOSITION CITES CHAVEZ SUPPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #0472 0671814 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081814Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9093 INFO RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 1824 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 2050 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0403 RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 1992 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0588 RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 2938
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000472
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN OPPOSITION CITES CHAVEZ SUPPORT
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000472
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN OPPOSITION CITES CHAVEZ SUPPORT
1. On March 2, Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit (URNG)
representatives published a private letter from Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez to the family of Rodrigo Asturias, who
passed away June 15, 2005. The letter was published in the
daily Prensa Libre as a paid advertisement. Asturias, also
known as Comandante Gaspar Ilom, former head of the
Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA),was the son of
Guatemala's Nobel Laureate for Literature Miguel Angel
Asturias.
2. URNG representatives Jorge and Guisella Rosal published the
condolence letter, sent more than eight months ago following
Asturias' death, as a memorial to the 24th anniversary of the
founding of URNG, the tenth anniversary of the Peace Accords,
and as a call to join a potential united leftist front.
Although the letter briefly mentions Asturias' failed
candidacy for the presidency in 2003, it does not cite any
specific support for the URNG.
3. The condolence letter stressed Chavez's opinion on the
significance of Asturias' life and the struggles experienced
by Guatemala and the Latin American left. Chavez tried to
establish a connection between the indigenous struggles of the
20th century and the leftist struggles of the 21st century.
4. Comment: The URNG are reaching for some kind of relevance
to the current political situation in Guatemala. Even the
suggestion of an endorsement by Chavez would be seen as a coup
by URNG insiders and it would play well with a certain sector
of the Guatemalan electorate. Although he did not say so in
the letter, Chavez probably would choose the URNG's rhetoric
over those of other Guatemalan parties. Rumors abound in
Guatemala of Chavez's involvement with political issues,
including financing political campaigns of like-minded
candidates. If true, we question why the URNG needed to dig
up an old letter on an unrelated topic to make their link to
Chavez.
5. Sandino Asturias, son to Rodrigo, grandson to Miguel Angel,
is thought to be attractive to the URNG as a presidential
candidate, along with former Vice Presidential candidate Ramon
Cadenas (currently an advisor to the United Nations Office of
the High Commissioner),and the dream candidate of Rigoberta
Menchu. It is possible that the Rosales are using the letter
to further the Asturias candidacy, as the URNG leadership is
currently discussing the presidential chances of a number of
candidates as well as the issue of presenting a candidate
alone or together with another party.
DERHAM
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN OPPOSITION CITES CHAVEZ SUPPORT
1. On March 2, Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit (URNG)
representatives published a private letter from Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez to the family of Rodrigo Asturias, who
passed away June 15, 2005. The letter was published in the
daily Prensa Libre as a paid advertisement. Asturias, also
known as Comandante Gaspar Ilom, former head of the
Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA),was the son of
Guatemala's Nobel Laureate for Literature Miguel Angel
Asturias.
2. URNG representatives Jorge and Guisella Rosal published the
condolence letter, sent more than eight months ago following
Asturias' death, as a memorial to the 24th anniversary of the
founding of URNG, the tenth anniversary of the Peace Accords,
and as a call to join a potential united leftist front.
Although the letter briefly mentions Asturias' failed
candidacy for the presidency in 2003, it does not cite any
specific support for the URNG.
3. The condolence letter stressed Chavez's opinion on the
significance of Asturias' life and the struggles experienced
by Guatemala and the Latin American left. Chavez tried to
establish a connection between the indigenous struggles of the
20th century and the leftist struggles of the 21st century.
4. Comment: The URNG are reaching for some kind of relevance
to the current political situation in Guatemala. Even the
suggestion of an endorsement by Chavez would be seen as a coup
by URNG insiders and it would play well with a certain sector
of the Guatemalan electorate. Although he did not say so in
the letter, Chavez probably would choose the URNG's rhetoric
over those of other Guatemalan parties. Rumors abound in
Guatemala of Chavez's involvement with political issues,
including financing political campaigns of like-minded
candidates. If true, we question why the URNG needed to dig
up an old letter on an unrelated topic to make their link to
Chavez.
5. Sandino Asturias, son to Rodrigo, grandson to Miguel Angel,
is thought to be attractive to the URNG as a presidential
candidate, along with former Vice Presidential candidate Ramon
Cadenas (currently an advisor to the United Nations Office of
the High Commissioner),and the dream candidate of Rigoberta
Menchu. It is possible that the Rosales are using the letter
to further the Asturias candidacy, as the URNG leadership is
currently discussing the presidential chances of a number of
candidates as well as the issue of presenting a candidate
alone or together with another party.
DERHAM