Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANSALVADOR447
2006-02-22 20:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:  

FMLN INVOLVES CUBA AND VENEZUELA IN SALVADORAN

Tags:  PGOV PTER VE CU ES ELECTIONS 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000447 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2026
TAGS: PGOV PTER VE CU ES ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: FMLN INVOLVES CUBA AND VENEZUELA IN SALVADORAN
NATIONAL ELECTIONS


Classified By: DCM Michael Butler. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000447

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2026
TAGS: PGOV PTER VE CU ES ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: FMLN INVOLVES CUBA AND VENEZUELA IN SALVADORAN
NATIONAL ELECTIONS


Classified By: DCM Michael Butler. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary and Comment: President Saca and other
high-ranking GOES officials have recently raised concerns
with Ambassador and other Embassy contacts that Cuba and
Venezuela are helping the FMLN in the March 12 national
elections for deputies and mayors. There are now clear
indications that the FMLN and Venezuelan officials are
working on a scheme to barter subsidized Venezuelan oil for
unspecified "foodstuffs" with FMLN controlled cities and
towns. Although this scheme appears totally unworkable, its
clear intention is to help the FMLN electorally. Likewise,
as the election draws closer, the FMLN is pulling other
campaign stops with Cuban and Venezuelan assistance,
including promises to medically treat poor Salvadorans in
Cuba and Venezuela. There is little indication thus far that
these schemes will help the FMLN, except in maintaining its
hardcore base. Despite past allegations that Venezuela is
providing significant campaign financing to the FMLN, GOES
contacts have been unable to provide concrete evidence of
that, though they have affirmed that large "in-kind"
contributions, such as campaign t-shirts, have been donated
by the Peoples' Republic of China. End Summary and Comment.


2. (C) During a February 13 meeting with Ambassador,
Salvadoran President Saca raised the issue of Venezuelan
involvement in El Salvador's March 12 national elections for
deputies and mayors. At that time, Saca said that the FMLN
and Venezuela had worked out a scheme whereby the FMLN would
announce that Venezuela would barter subsidized oil for
unspecified "foodstuffs" with FMLN-controlled cities and
towns. According to Saca, this scheme would be part of a
series of actions orchestrated by the FMLN with Venezuela and
Cuba to influence the outcome of the March 1 elections in
their favor. Saca explained that the scheme is unworkable on
many levels, foremost being that Venezuelan oil would be
essentially unrefinable and unstoppable in El Salvador, and
that the FMLN knew that. The clear purpose, he concluded,
was to confuse the general population and gain important vote
margins that would allow the FMLN to maintain enough deputies
in the National Assembly to block Saca's legislative agenda
for his last three years in office.


3. (C) Separately, on February 8, National Electoral
Tribunal (TSE) President Walter Araujo confided to Polcouns
that the GOES had decided to invite a small delegation from
Cuba, headed by Americas Department official Ramiro Abreu, as
official observers to the March 12 elections, as one of the
international delegations being invited. Araujo reasoned
that it would be better to have the Cubans here openly as
observers, and felt it would put the Cuban government in a
difficult position vis-a-vis the GOES if the GOC had
disruptive intentions. Araujo confirmed the invitation to
Abreu publicly on February 18.


4. (U) On February 17, local press reported that the
Venezuelan National Petroleum Agency (PDVSA) and the recently
created Intermunicipal Energy Association for El Salvador
(ENEPASA),the latter composed of 20 FMLN-controlled
municipalities, have announced plans to export up to 80,000
barrels per month of refined oil to El Salvador. Gilmer
Gonzalez, who identified himself as a PDVSA executive, was
quoted as saying that he has already visited El Salvador's
pacific port of Acajutla, which he characterized as having
adequate infrastructure for the off-loading of Venezuelan
oil. Gonzalez stated that a barter arrangement, possibly in
exchange for Salvadoran sugar, was being considered. In line
with these negotiations, there is speculation that
Venezuela's Energy Minister could visit El Salvador this
month to sign an agreement with ENEPASA. Also on February 17,
FMLN candidate for San Salvador mayor Violeta Menjivar bid
goodbye to 64 poor Salvadorans traveling to Venezuela for
free eye surgery sponsored by the Chavez government, and
announced that she will provide additional medical care and
surgeries to other poor Salvadorans, in Cuba and Venezuela.

Butler