OPPOSITION UCV STUDENT BLOC WINS LANDSLIDE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002214 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL VE SUBJECT: OPPOSITION UCV STUDENT BLOC WINS LANDSLIDE VICTORY, PROTESTS CONTINUE OUTSIDE OF CARACAS REF: A. CARACAS 01128 ¶B. CARACAS 02152 CARACAS 00002214 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Opposition-oriented candidates easily won student elections held November 16 at the public Central University of Venezuela's (UCV) campuses nationwide. Student voters elected a new president to the Federation of UCV Colleges (FCU),representatives for each college, and student delegates to the University Council. The opposition student bloc known as "100% Students" captured an overwhelming majority of the votes, beating out other opposition student organizations, and the "Bolivarian" student movement. The elections were characterized by higher than expected voter participation rates. Separately, state security forces have responded to student-led protests in Tachira state with heavy-handed tactics. University students nationwide pledge to continue their street actions in the lead-up to the December 2 referendum. END SUMMARY. -------------- Opposition Student Leaders: Big Winners -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to preliminary results, opposition-oriented candidates performed exceptionally well during national student elections held November 16 at the public Central University of Venezuela (UCV). The most significant election was for the president of the Federation of UCV Colleges (FCU),the UCV student representative at-large. Student voters elected Ricardo Sanchez of the opposition-oriented student bloc "100% Students" to the position. Sanchez replaces outspoken, opposition student leader Stalin Gonzalez (Ref A). (Note: Gonzalez was instrumental in organizing the student-led protests in May and recent demonstrations in favor of postponing the December 2 referendum. End Note). ¶3. (SBU) Sanchez is a twenty-four year-old International Relations student and served as the FCU's Secretary General under Gonzalez. In an interview in "El Universal's" Sunday edition, Sanchez spoke of the need for the student movement to adopt a definite position on President's Chavez' proposed, reform package. He also confirmed that student-led demonstrations will continue in the weeks leading up to the referendum. All-news cable network Globovision reported that Sanchez called on students to rally November 21 in commemoration of the "Day of the Students." Sanchez is originally from San Cristobal, Tachira state. ¶4. (SBU) Elections for the student heads of colleges, six representatives to the University Council, 11 to the University Body (Cuerpo de Facultad),and 42 to the School Council (Consejado de Escuela) were also held. "100% Students'" wide margin of victory is noteworthy given that other opposition blocs also presented candidates. Overall, the "Bolivarian" student movement performed poorly at the polls. A "Bolivarian" student, however, was elected to head of the College of Social Work. (Note: Students from the college reportedly called on pro-government, armed motorcyclists to aid them when violence erupted November 13 on UCV's campus in Caracas (Ref. B). End Note). The "Bolivarian" student movement generally accepted the elections results, although a few students complained to the media that university administrators showed favoritism towards the opposition student blocs. ¶5. (SBU) The November 16 elections at UCV were characterized by higher than expected voter turn-out rates. The local media widely reported that nearly 50 percent of enrolled students, approximately 20,000 students, cast a vote. According to these sources, university administrators reported that previous elections were plagued by student apathy, and that participation rates typically hovered at 20 percent. Election day activities developed without major incidents. -------------- Student Protests Continue -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The peaceful election at UCV contrasts greatly with events taking place in universities located in the interior of the country. In the western state of Tachira, the CARACAS 00002214 002.2 OF 002 National Guard (GN) entered the Experimental University of Tachira's campus grounds on November 19 and confronted students using tear gas, rocks, and rubber bullets, the press reports. The GN's heavy-handed response reportedly came after students passed out informational flyers on Chavez' proposed constitutional reform package. One of the university's directors was temporarily detained by GN officers when he attempted to assist some injured students. University officials told the media that they attempted to reach Pedro Carreno, Minister of Interior and Justice, regarding the GN's apparent excessive use of force, but the Minister could not be located. In Zulia state, four tear gas canisters were detonated at the University of Zulia on November 19 by unknown persons. ¶7. (C) Separately, Caracas-based student leaders plan to keep up the pressure on the government in the weeks before the December 2 referendum via more demonstrations. Their "March of No Return" is scheduled for November 26. Opposition party Un Nuevo Tiempo's (UNT's) International Relations Director Timoteo Zambrano told A/PolCouns November 20 that opposition student leaders soon plan to call on their base to vote "No" in the referendum. (Note: To date, the student movement has called on the government to postpone the referendum until February 2008. End Note). Zambrano also said that the opposition student movement agreed to supply 12,000 volunteers to assist as election observers during the referendum. He noted that most student volunteers are affiliated with opposition parties UNT and Primero Justicia. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The opposition student bloc's overwhelming victory could indicate that the majority of UCVistas support continued opposition student activism. Sanchez' previous leadership position within the FCU probably worked in his favor as did his past experience in working with other prominent leaders of the student movement. This is also a highly symbolic victory for the opposition because UCV is a public university that attracts students from across the socioeconomic spectrum. This win contradicts Chavez' assertions that student actors are just privileged kids from private schools. The "Bolivarian" students' poor showing appears to confirm the opposition's assertion that they are merely President Chavez' representatives and lack any kind of substantial student backing of their own. Separately, the excessive use of force by security forces on students in the interior of the country may indicate that the BRV is prepared to be tougher on students outside the international media spotlight that is currently on Caracas. DUDDY