NICARAGUA'S OAS AMBASSADOR CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA'S OAS AMBASSADOR CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD
AND VENEZUELA

REF: MANAGUA 220

Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (SBU) The OAS election observation team and efforts to
combat election fraud may fail unless certain steps are
taken, according to Nicaraguan Ambassador to the OAS Jose
Luis Velasquez. Velasquez, and senior MFA advisor Ariel
Granera, during a 26 January meeting with the Ambassador, DCM
and Poloff, voiced their concerns about the OAS election
observation team, election fraud, and Venezuelan funding for
the FSLN. Both individuals stressed the importance of a
clear message on election observations from the OAS and the
Embassy.


2. (SBU) Velasquez opined that a loophole in the way the OAS
election observation team was invited to Nicaragua could be
used to invalidate the team's observations. He believes that
the OAS team must clarify this issue. (Note: For the last few
months, three PLC magistrates on the seven member board of
the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) have abstained. There
must be five votes in order to have a quorum, which means
that the legality of any recent CSE decisions, including the
invitation to the OAS observers, could be questioned. OAS
envoy John Biehl (Reftel) confirmed to CSE magistrates on
January 26 that the CSE invitation was not legitimate for
this reason and also because it must be transmitted to the
OAS via the MFA.) Velasquez observed that it is "too late for
the Atlantic Coast elections," and that the 25 planned OAS
election observers will only be able to gather information on
problems that must be addressed before the national
elections.


3. (SBU) Granera also expressed concerns about the OAS
election team, asserting that the team must establish a
minimum threshold of accomplishments to ensure free and fair
elections. He believes that if the team decides a thorough
scrub of the voter registry (padron) is necessary to ensure a
fair election, it will be impossible to accomplish this
before November and there will be a move to postpone
elections. Velasquez mentioned that if the team recommends
replacing the entire CSE, this too might derail the
elections; both agreed that these actions must be taken after
the election. They urged the United States and the OAS team
to clearly state their objectives and to be completely frank
with the CSE about the requirements for OAS participation and
what must be accomplished. The Ambassador and DCM outlined
the three-part plan for election observation, diagnosis of
the problems, and technical assistance from IFES, and urged
Velasquez and Granera to help correct misperceptions that
IFES is a U.S. government agency.


4. (C) Velasquez then voiced his concerns about the February
1 release of an OAS report on the recent Venezuelan
(regional) elections. He fears that the report will validate
Chavez's election and pushed for a combined message from the
United States and Nicaragua that forcefully rejects a process
that legitimizes a fraudulent government. He believes that
few countries in the region will speak out against the
report. Granera claims that ties between Venezuela and Cuba
are stronger than ever and that "Chavez and Fidel will not
let Ortega lose." He believes that Chavez is actively
funding the FSLN. When the Ambassador asked if he had any
proof or names of people who received money from Chavez,
Velasquez claimed that Chavez is too smart to do anything
overt, but that almost everyone from the FSLN who travels to
Caracas brings back money in their suitcases to finance
Ortega's election campaign.
TRIVELLI