OPPOSITION UCV STUDENT BLOC WINS LANDSLIDE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002214

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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

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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.

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Opposition Student Leaders: Big Winners
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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.

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Student Protests Continue
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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

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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.

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Comment
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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