STUDENT LEADERS: "WE WILL REMAIN IN THE STREETS,"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002142 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC VE SUBJECT: STUDENT LEADERS: "WE WILL REMAIN IN THE STREETS," CLASHES CONTINUE REF: A. CARACAS 02134 ¶B. CARACAS 02120 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. University student leaders vowed to continue with street actions to protest the December 2 constitutional referendum during a November 5 press conference. They announced plans to march to the Supreme Court November 7 to request that the referendum be postponed until February 2008. Following the press conference, small groups of student protesters blocked Caracas highways and clashed with state security forces. Student demonstrations and skirmishes with security forces also continued in the western state of Tachira. Additional student protests, arrests, and injuries were also reported in cities nationwide. END SUMMARY. -------------- Students: Protests Will Continue -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During a November 5 press conference at the private Simon Bolivar University (USB),student leaders vowed to continue their acts of civil resistance to protest the constitutional reform referendum scheduled for December 2. Student leaders Roberto Alvarez of USB and Richard Sanchez of Central University in Venezuela (UCV) announced plans to march from the UCV to the Supreme Court (TSJ) on November 7 to request that the referendum be pushed back until February ¶2008. (Note: The Youth Wing of Chavez' PSUV party also announced plans to march to the TSJ on November 7. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) Alvarez and Sanchez added that students planned to march to the TSJ with or without a permit from Freddy Bernal, mayor of the predominately pro-Chavista Liberator municipality. Following the march, a designated group of students plan to deliver their written demands to Supreme Court justices. Alvarez and Sanchez called on students to reject violent means of protests and condemned the excessive use of FORCE against demonstrators by state security forces. The student leaders also harshly criticized Chavez' November 4 remarks, which accused students of provoking violence (Ref. A). -------------- Clashes in Caracas -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Following the press conference, small groups of students (usually numbering less than 100) organized protests in different parts of the capital city. For example, a group of students from the private Santa Maria University and the private Metropolitan University (Unitmet) blocked a major Caracas highway and burned tires, disrupting afternoon traffic. Security forces standing by fired tear gas bombs and rubber bullets at close range in order to disburse the crowd. The National Guard detained five Unitmet students after they allegedly threw bottles at vehicles stuck in traffic. The local media reported that the students were released from custody later that evening. ¶5. (SBU) Also on the afternoon of November 5, UCV students reported that a band of approximately 30 pro-Chavez motorcyclists gained access to university campus grounds, fired gun shots in the air, and dispensed tear gas bombs. Separately, students from Monteavila University reported that Metropolitan Police officers dissolved their peaceful protest with water cannons and tear gas bombs. An unknown number of students sustained injuries November 5 as a result of skirmishes with security forces. -------------- Disturbances Reported Nationwide -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Student demonstrations were also reported nationwide November 5. Students from Tachira Experimental University and from the University of the Andes in San Cristobal, Tachira state held protests and clashed with security forces for the seventh straight day. The national media report that 30 students were detained in the latest demonstration but were later released. In Merida, National Guardsmen faced off with students, leaving 10 demonstrators injured. In Barquisimeto, Lara state, security forces detained four CARACAS 00002142 002.2 OF 002 students, following a demonstration. Meanwhile, peaceful student protests were reported in Carabobo, Anzoategui, and Bolivar states. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) For the moment, university students appear committed to continue to protest despite the risks. As occurred in the May-June student protests over RCTV's closure, they are staging smaller impromptu demonstrations as a means to maintain momentum and keep up the pressure on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV). Ongoing student demonstrations are keeping student demands in the public eye, but it remains to be see how long they can sustain them. The BRV is stepping up its use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons, including on relatively small groups of demonstrators. Consequently, the likelihood of further clashes between students and security personnel appears to be increasing. DUDDY