DORA MARIA TELLEZ CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD, POSSIBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 002434 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2016 TAGS: EAID KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL SUBJECT: DORA MARIA TELLEZ CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD, POSSIBLE FSLN GOVERNMENT REF: MANAGUA 001031 05 APRIL 2004 Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) National Assembly deputy candidate Dora Maria Tellez is concerned about election fraud and the possibility of a Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) victory. She believes that the FSLN will resort to fraud to ensure a first-round victory for Daniel Ortega. Tellez, a long-time critic of U.S.G. policies, also told emboffs that she would be interested in encouraging dialogue between MRS members and the United States. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) During a meeting Polcouns and Poloff, MRS spokesman Israel Lewites and National Assembly deputy candidate Dora Maria Tellez said that they do not believe the FSLN can win fairly, but are certain that the FSLN is prepared to commit electoral fraud to steal a victory. Tellez claimed that the MRS will warn the FSLN that if it steals the election, the MRS will "take to the streets," opining that this is the "only kind of message Ortega understands." ¶3. (C) Tellez posits several types of potential fraud. (NOTE: During the campaign, Tellez has also made public statements accusing the FSLN of working with the Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) and the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) to mount massive election fraud using widespread vote result changes (impugnaciones). END NOTE) According to the scenario she envisions, the FSLN and the PLC will take advantage of the confusion over proper dispute procedure to annul JRVs in areas where the two parties are losing, or polling at a low level. Tellez accused the FSLN of securing two positions on many JRVs throughout the country by registering FSLN loyalists for the JRV posing as AC members -- if true, such registrations would grant the FSLN two of the three spots on a JRV. (COMMENT: We have heard and reported before that AC candidate Eden Pastora may be Ortega's "Trojan horse," that many of his JRV officials are FSLN members and will side with the FSLN in the event of any dispute on election day. END COMMENT) ¶4. (C) Tellez also says that she is aware of an FSLN plan to nullify 4 or 5 ballots for the MRS at each voting center (JRV). She believes the same is planned for Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) ballots. In this way, the FSLN could 
eliminate 10 MRS/ALN votes per JRV for a total of about 100,000 votes, enough to give Ortega the lead he needs to win. Tellez and Lewites claim that FSLN, PLC and AC party poll watchers (fiscales) are being instructed to nullify the ballots (which they note could easily be done by smearing a few with ink). ¶5. (C) Tellez and Lewites also admitted that recent (and now discontinued) MRS ads and statements have targeted Montealegre in an effort to differentiate the MRS from the ALN. Lewites believes that the MRS can still whittle away some of the FSLN vote by emphasizing the differences between the two parties and pointing out the MRS, Sandinista heritage and "leftist approach" to social issues and social justice. Lewites admitted, however, that Edmundo Jarquin opposes any kind of attack on the ALN, no matter how carefully done. (NOTE: Since our meeting with Tellez, Jarquin and Montealegre met again and renewed their prior agreement not to attack one another and the MRS ads criticizing Montealegre have disappeared. END NOTE) ¶6. (C) Tellez and Lewites voiced concern over the impact of Jarquin,s statements in support of therapeutic abortion (defined in Nicaragua as an abortion performed when the life of the mother is at risk). They believe the Jarquin's stance on the issue may have lost him potential MRS voters. Both Lewites and Tellez are also concerned about the other parties, vehement anti-abortion stance. COMMENT - - - - ¶7. (C) This first meeting with Tellez was an opportunity to hear from a more "hard-line" member of the MRS. Tellez has often been critical of U.S. policies, but showed an apparent openness to discuss issues with emboffs and to pursue future meetings. Tellez began the session by quizzing emboffs on their backgrounds and then relating stories about her family, and "loosened up" as the meeting progressed. A lively story-teller, Tellez is also brutally frank when discussing politics and her opinions. Tellez, who says she has a cousin in the United States and a nephew fighting in Iraq, stated that she does not have an issue with the United States, but believes that Nicaraguans often manipulate Americans to do "their dirty work." END COMMENT. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (SBU) Tellez, a key "commandante" of the FSLN, served as minister of health under the FSLN and later became a member of the Sandinistas' National Directorate. Tellez was the third ranking commander (known as Commandante Dos) of the August 22, 1978 attack on the National Palace and the principal negotiator for the FSLN during the crisis. She broke away from FSLN leader Daniel Ortega in the 1990s and formed the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS). Others joined her as discontent grew within the FSLN after the 1990 "pinata" and Ortega's continued electoral defeats during that decade. ¶9. (C) Tellez is a key member of Edmundo Jarquin's campaign team -- part of a core group that includes Jarquin's wife, campaign manager Luis Carrion, Victor Hugo Tinoco, Alberto Cortes, members of the Greenberg consulting firm, and Lewites. ¶10. (C) In the years prior to 1993, Tellez was classified as a terrorist for her role in the takeover of the National Palace (septel) and therefore ineligible for a U.S. visa. Post reviewed individuals under this classification and she was deemed eligible for a visa. However, in April 2004, after post took a closer look at her history, Tellez was refused a visa to attend language training in San Diego under the new terrorist definition in 212 (a)(3)(B). TRIVELLI