Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAGUA1098
2006-05-18 21:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Managua
Cable title:  

CODEL BURTON -- SHORT BUT SUCCESSFUL VISIT

Tags:  EAID KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #1098/01 1382148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182148Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6335
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0680
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS MANAGUA 001098 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: CODEL BURTON -- SHORT BUT SUCCESSFUL VISIT


UNCLAS MANAGUA 001098

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: CODEL BURTON -- SHORT BUT SUCCESSFUL VISIT



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 9, Codel Burton (Representatives
Burton, Meeks, Akin, Bordallo, Marchant, and Watson) made a
brief stopover in Nicaragua on their way back to the United
States from Costa Rica. During their time in Nicaragua, the
Codel met with Embassy staff for a briefing on elections
activities, with elections partners (CEPPS and NGOS) to
discuss current efforts, and then gave a brief press
conference. The Codel's comments at the press conference
were general, emphasizing the importance of free, fair and
transparent elections in Nicaragua, but still garnered
extensive coverage by all major media. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador briefed the Codel prior to their
meeting with Post's election partners and provided an
overview of the situation and each of the presidential
candidates. He emphasized that the USG is not endorsing
specific candidates, rather the goal is to provide the
"political space" for a democratic candidate to be elected in
a fair election. He explained that the Sandinista
(FSLN)-Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) pact is detrimental
to democracy in Nicaragua. The Ambassador also talked about
Chavez's open support for Ortega.


3. (SBU) Burton asked if Sandinista dissident Herty Lewites
will actually run for office; the Ambassador replied that he
believes Lewites' intentions are genuine and that he truly
wants to reform Sandinismo. Meeks sought a clarification on
the candidates' platforms, to which the Ambassador replied
that at this point there are no clear platforms, only
personalities. The Ambassador outlined two key U.S. concerns
-- that Arnoldo Aleman still controls the PLC, and that
election results could be manipulated to
ensure victory by the PLC or FSLN. Watson inquired about
the significance of the Atlantic Coast election results, to
which the Ambassador replied that we should not read to much
into the results -- using them to predict the outcome of the
national elections is like using a state assembly race in
Alaska to predict the outcome of the U.S. national election.

CEPPS AND NGOS ENGAGED
--------------


4. (U) Each of the CEPPS partners and NGOs outlined their

election programs. The CEPPS partners have been focused on
cedulas (national identification card needed to vote),the
padron (voter rolls) and "get out the vote" activities.
According to IFES, close to 200,000 national ID cards
(cedulas) have not been distributed to voters. IFES is
working with the CSE (Supreme Electoral Council) to ensure
greater distribution of cedulas by funding fixed kiosks and
mobile units in areas without access to CSE regional or
municipal offices. To counter young voter apathy, IRI is
providing funds to JUDENIC, a local youth NGO, to implement a
Nicaraguan Rock the Vote style campaign called "Tu Voz, Tu
Voto." IRI will also train over 39,000 "fiscales" (election
monitors) from the ALN-PC, MRS and AC to monitor voting.
Several of the representatives asked why they were not going
to train observers for all the parties, to include the FSLN
and PLC; IRI replied that the CSE is controlled by the FSLN
and the PLC so they are being trained under the Council's
program. The representative from NDI mentioned that they are
working with the parties.


5. (U) NDI's national padron audit, implemented by Etica y
Transparencia (ET) and the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA),
is well underway, with the roll-out and final report expected
in late May. Separately, ET and UCA have completed the first
stage of a study documenting the process to obtain cedulas.
The results of the findings will be shared with business
associations and other entities to encourage all employees to
obtain cedulas. Based on the results of the padron audit and
cedula study, NDI will fund a public awareness campaign to
pressure the CSE to clean-up the padron and improve its
cedulation process. ET also plans to fund a "quick count"
for the election to tally preliminary results.


6. (SBU) Additionally, Movimiento por Nicaragua (MpN) began
a pilot project with Public Affairs Democracy Funds to create
a Citizen Attention Center in Managua to help Nicaraguans,
especially those with limited income, to acquire birth
certificates required to apply for cedulas. Once necessary
paperwork is completed, with the assistance of MpN's legal
and secretarial staff, MpN charters buses to transport
Nicaraguans to the CSE to personally apply for cedulas. With
additional funding from NDI, MpN will expand the Managua
Center and add three new centers throughout the country. The
expanded Centers will also provide voter education pamphlets
and announcements to educate citizens on the need to
participate in the electoral process. This successful effort
will be multiplied throughout the country with USAID funds.

VENEZUELAN INFLUENCE
--------------


7. (SBU) During the CEPPS meeting, Congressman Burton asked
about other country's support for specific presidential
candidates. The representatives from ET and MpN spoke about
Hugo Chavez's support for Daniel Ortega's campaign, including
a promise of oil and fertilizer. ET added that Venezuelan
support may total USD 50 million and will include mobilizing
helicopters to help the Ortega campaign. Under Nicaraguan
electoral law, there is no problem in accepting donations
from abroad for campaigns.

SHORT, BUT GREAT MEDIA COVERAGE
--------------


8. (U) After the meeting with CEPPS partners and NGOs, the
Codel gave a brief press conference. Members gave a short
introduction, commented on the need for free, fair and
transparent elections and encouraged the Nicaraguan people to
vote. They pointed out that this was a bipartisan Codel, but
they are united in their belief in democracy, which is why
they had stopped in Nicaragua. Burton took several
questions, ranging from whether the United States would work
with any elected government to whether there would be
legislation on immigration soon. Burton emphasized that the
United States will work with any government that is elected
through free, fair and democratic elections. He also
commented that he believes there will soon be a bipartisan,
realistic policy on immigration. All major media carried the
story the next day. There were extensive articles in the two
major newspapers, and several of the television stations ran
the entire press conference.


9. (U) Participants

US Election Program Implementers:
Deborah Ullmer (NDI)
Gilberto Valdez (IRI)
Francisco Cobos (IFES)

Nicaraguan NGOs:
Nelson Estrada (Movimiento por Nicaragua)
Roberto Courtney (Etica y Transparencia)

U.S.:
Ambassador Paul Trivelli
Acting DCM Marcia Bosshardt
Polcouns Victoria Alvarado
USAID Alex Dickie
USAID Danika Walters
USAID Steven Hendrix
Poloff Tim Smith
Poloff Nicole Chulick
Public Affairs Preeti Shah
TRIVELLI