STUDENTS SHIFT FOCUS TO PRO-DEMOCRACY THEMES, BRV

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 001251 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL ASEC VE SUBJECT: STUDENTS SHIFT FOCUS TO PRO-DEMOCRACY THEMES, BRV BANS PROTESTS REF: CARACAS 01128 CARACAS 00001251 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Three weeks after the closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV),Venezuela's oldest independent broadcaster, students maintain pressure on the BRV via peaceful protests in support of freedom of expression and other positive themes, such as university autonomy. More student-led demonstrations and activities are planned in Caracas and other major cities, including a June 22 university debate in Caracas, a June 27 march by journalists and students to commemorate the "Day of the Journalist," and a June 29 march to mark the one-month anniversary of RCTV's closure. BRV officials are now accusing students of attempting to sabotage the regional Copa America soccer tournament, scheduled to be held in Venezuela from June 26 to July 15, and have banned all protests during the tournament. Separately, two public opinion polls released recently indicate widespread public discontent with RCTV's closure, but predict only minimal damage to Chavez' overall popularity. Chavez' recent characterization of students and others demonstrators as "destabilizing" factors, indicate his increasing paranoia over the direction these groups will take. END SUMMARY. -------------- Students shift to pro-democracy activities -------------- ¶2. (SBU) For three weeks, university students have led peaceful demonstrations in favor of freedom of expression and against the BRV-imposed shutdown of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). Student leaders, however, also have recently organized activities around other pro-democracy themes, including, university autonomy. The thematic approach has not visibly affected the cohesiveness of the movement and appears to resonate well with the bases. Despite the BRV's attempts to link the students with opposition political parties and the USG, student activities remain non-partisan and autonomous. Most student-led activities have taken place without incident although scattered confrontations with security forces have also been reported. -- Students marched on June 21 from Parque Cristal to CONATEL, the BRV's telecommunications regulatory agency, and demanded the return of RCTV to public access television. -- University students in Anzoategui state marched on June 20 to the Barcelona municipality courthouse to demand the release of four students detained by security forces. The jailed students, two of whom are minors, were arrested the evening of June 19 after they allegedly attempted to block the highway connecting Barcelona to Puerto La Cruz by burning tires, allegations their student peers dismissed. -- Student leaders outlined their concerns about the role of the Armed Forces in President Chavez' administration in a June 19 communiquQ. The students noted that Venezuela's constitution calls on the Armed Forces to lend their services to the nation, not to any person or political party. -- On June 14, security forces impeded a student-led "national reconciliation" march to Plaza Caracas in the predominately Chavista downtown area. During a press conference, Libertador Municipality Mayor Freddy Bernal said the students did not have permission to march to the square. As a result, Metropolitan police held off the march for several hours, pushing students back with water cannons and tear gas shells. Pro-chavista university students held a counter-rally where the march was stopped, and a few of them attacked student leaders Jon Goinocochea and Stalin Gonzalez. Police officials led the Chavista students away, but did not make any arrests. -- Goinocochea and Gonzalez filed complaints with the Attorney General's office June 15. The student leaders called on the BRV to conduct an impartial investigation into their assault cases. Gonzalez, who still sported bruises on his forehead from the previous day's incident, alleged that a Metropolitan Police (PM) officer threw a tear gas bomb at him after he was beaten. The Attorney General's office subsequently opened an investigation, not into the students' cases but into the alleged attacks on three PM officials by the university students. In a press conference, Goinocochea CARACAS 00001251 002.2 OF 003 said students will continue requesting permits to march to Plaza Caracas, and argued that the square unfairly remains an exclusive area for pro-government marches. He claimed that a student-led demonstration to the square could help bridge the socio-political divide that characterizes downtown Caracas. -- The Simon Bolivar University (USB) rector and students marched to the Ministry of Popular Power for Higher Education under the banner of "university autonomy" on June 12, and were met by Minister Luis Acuna. Acuna urged the USB rector and students to submit their proposal on university autonomy for approval by the necessary higher education board. The rector pointed out that the BRV appoints the majority of the board's members, and that they have blocked consideration of the proposal. The demonstration enjoyed a fairly large turnout and took place without incident. -- Protests continued in major cities outside Caracas, as well. Two students, including a local student leader, were injured on June 11 at the University of Carabobo when Chavistas broke up a student debate on freedom of expression. ¶3. (SBU) Student-led protests and activities are expected to continue in the coming days and weeks. Caracas university students plan to host students from across the country on June 22 for a national university debate in the Central University of Venezuela's (UCV)'s baseball stadium. Student leaders noted they did not call any street mobilizations for the week of June 18 to 22 in order to concentrate their efforts on the upcoming event. They predict over 40,000 students will attend the debate. Journalists and students plan to march June 27 to commemorate the "Day of the Journalist" in Caracas. Separately, Embassy contacts informed us that journalists in Maracaibo intend to strike that day. On June 29, a march is scheduled in support of World Education Appreciation Day and to commemorate the one-month anniversary of RCTV's closure. -------------- BRV hurls accusations, protests banned -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In light of ongoing demonstrations, BRV officials accused students, journalists, and other demonstrators of attempting to sabotage the regional Copa America soccer tournament, scheduled to be held in Venezuela from June 26 to July 15. In a June 19 television interview, President Chavez warned that these groups were trying to launch new offensives against his government. Chavez said these sectors were "attempting to re-ignite a burned out flame," a reference to initial pro-RCTV marches. Minister of Popular Power for Interior and Justice Pedro Carreno also announced June 19 that all protests are banned during the tournament in compliance with security measures imposed by the tournament's organizers. Student leaders argue this restriction violates Article 68 of the constitution, which guarantees the right to protest. ¶5. (C) Similarly, BRV officials continue to allege that the students are pawns of opposition political parties and the USG. The pro-government daily "Diario Vea" reported on June 16 that "social intelligence sources" discovered links between student leaders and "destabilizing" forces. According to the source, several student leaders allegedly received monthly payments of up to 5 million bolivares (approximately USD 2,325),cellular phones, and vehicles to facilitate participation in "violent demonstrations." "Vea" also features daily columns attacking the students, particularly student leaders from private universities. "Diario Vea" argues the USG financed the students as part of a strategy to remove President Chavez. While the BRV attempts to connect the student movement with opposition figures, Embassy contacts tell us student leaders are cautious about such associations. A doctoral student active in opposition party Un Nuevo Tiempo, for instance, told us that she would like to be more active in the student movement at the private Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, but student leaders have asked her to keep her distance. They do not want to have someone clearly identified with an opposition party "taint" their non-partisan efforts to defend civil liberties. -------------- Polls Indicate Discontent -------------- CARACAS 00001251 003.2 OF 003 ¶6. (C) Separately, public opinion polls by reputable pollsters Datanalisis and Datos indicate widespread public discontent over Chavez' decision to not renew RCTV's broadcasting license. Datanalisis Director Luis Vicente Leon told POLOFF June 20 that their latest poll (taken at the end of May/beginning of June) reported that the BRV's anti-RCTV decision was very unpopular, but had not significantly affected ChavezQ, popularity rating. The polling firm Datos released figures June 16 relating to RCTV's closure. According to the study, 56% of those polled believed RCTV's closure was an attack on freedom of expression; 75% were not in favor of removing Globovision from the airwaves; and 56% characterized the recent student-led pretests as good or very good. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Chavez' recent statements that the student movement, journalists, and other demonstrators are working together to "destabilize" his government and the Copa America (although he will be traveling to Russia and Iran during much of the tournament) indicate he is growing increasingly wary and paranoid over his inability to control the actions of these groups. Chavez is bent on showcasing a Bolivarian utopia during the Copa America and is becoming intolerant of those sectors who stand to compromise that vision. ¶8. (C) The student movement remains resilient despite ongoing BRV harassment, although recent demonstrations have attracted smaller crowds. Upcoming marches commemorating the "Day of the Journalist" and the one-month anniversary of RCTV's closure might help revitalize the student bases. The BRV's reactions to these activities, particularly during the Copa, will also help define the direction the student movement will assume in the summer months ahead. BROWNFIELD