REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 27

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 002245 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 27 REF: A. CARACAS 2238 ¶B. CARACAS 2188 CARACAS 00002245 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: President Chavez reminded his supporters November 26 that a loss for the "No" vote would not end his government or the Bolivarian Revolution. Opposition parties and university students continue to try to mobilize their supporters to participate in the December 2 referendum, emphasizing the importance not only of voting but of volunteering as electoral witnesses. For the first time since the 2005 local election, Accion Democratica Secretary General Henry Ramos Allup called on supporters to vote No. An open letter signed by President Carter and other former international dignitaries also advocated Venezuelans to vote and "influence the country's future path." Miranda State Governor Diosdado Cabello announced the "Yes" campaign will now hold its closing rally November 30 in the Bolivar Plaza. While the opposition--which was scheduled to demonstrate at the same day and place--has not yet changed its plans, student leaders announced they will NOW march November 29. Election violence has claimed one life in Valencia and security forces disbursed students handing out "No" pamphlets in front of a local private university. End summary. -------------- Chavez Sets Margin of Victory -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During a speech to "socialist businessmen" the evening of November 26 at the Caracas ALBA hotel, President Chavez predicted his reform package would pass by a margin of 10 - 20 percent. Somewhat tempering his November 23 warning (Ref A),he also clarified that a loss for the "Yes" bloc would not spell the end of the government or the Bolivarian revolution, but it would make it "harder to accelerate the process." -------------- Chavez Threatens to Take Away Businesses -------------- ¶3. (SBU) During the same speech, Chavez also threatened to take away the businesses of Fedecamaras members (the nation's largest umbrella business organization) as well as the chamber itself if the organization continued to challenge his constitutional reform (Ref B). Chavez was reacting to recent statements by Fedecamaras President Jose Manuel Gonzalez that they "would do everything possible to prevent the constitutional reform." -------------- Turn-Out is Pivotal -------------- ¶4. (C) Edmond Saade, head of Datos Polling Firm and President of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce, gave a presentation to the Ambassador November 27 on voter preferences in the run-up to the December 2 referendum. Saade stressed that based on two polls (one done in 38 cities up to November 8 and one done in 19 cities up to November 23),the intention to vote is increasing significantly to the opposition's advantage. Saade also noted that voter satisfaction with the Chavez government has dropped in recent months to about 50 percent, making Chavez, efforts to personalize the referendum less effective than in previous elections. Saade outlined three high voter turn-out scenarios in which the &No8 camp could conceivably win by a narrow margin. (Note: Low turnout will likely hurt the opposition "No" camp disproportionately because some traditional opposition parties have been slow to encourage participation.) Saade said his firm would not be doing exit polls, but he expressed confidence in the sample exit polls that electoral NGOs Ojo Electoral and Sumate plan to conduct. He also said CNE Rector Vicente Diaz, the only rector widely perceived to be independent, has promised to speak out if the BRV resorts to fraud to win the referendum. -------------- AD Takes Action -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Accion Democratica (AD) Secretary General Henry Ramos Allup held a press conference November 27 to call on AD members to vote against the constitutional reform. He also ordered party leaders to contribute witnesses for the CARACAS 00002245 002.2 OF 003 electoral tables to prevent potential government fraud and urged all opposition supporters to peacefully congregate outside of voting centers to support the electoral witnesses and "defend the vote" against Chavista manipulation and intimidation attempts. (Note: El Universal reports the opposition, even with the help of pro-Chavez Podemos, has identified only about 30 percent of the necessary witnesses.) Ramos Allup cautioned supporters that while President Chavez would still be around the day after the vote, he would wake up with one of two realities depending on opposition turnout. Either Chavez would be faced with a defeat and disillusionment because his movement would implode or on the contrary he would be emboldened. Ramos Allup then briefly turned the floor over to AD Youth Secretary Angel Medina, who urged students to vote against the referendum and "go out to defend what corresponds to us." ¶6. (C) This is the first time AD has officially advocated voting since the August 2005 parroquial elections. In a radio interview previewing the press conference, Ramos Allup cited the substantial change in voter sentiment against the reform as one of the reasons for AD's change in position. While this is almost certainly one reason, Ramos Allup may also have calculated that he could use the election to set the stage for an AD resurgence. Although AD has lost many supporters, due in part to its abstentionist stance and stale leadership, it is still thought to be one of the largest opposition parties. -------------- Government Media Blames US and Others -------------- ¶7. (C) Government media appear to be laying the ground work for blaming the US and other countries should the constitutional reform be defeated. The moderators of hardline government talk show "La Hojilla" November 26 read from an alleged confidential memorandum, the complete text of which was released November 27 on the government-affiliated Aporrea news website, to CIA Director Michael Hayden. The memo entitled "Update on the Last Phase of Operation Pliers (Tenaza)," lays out approximately two recommended options for dealing with the referendum: prevent it from happening or prepare to not recognize the results, even if the "No" vote wins. The memo also outlines the work done so far in laying the ground work for these options--including the student protests, opposition press statements on concerns about the quality of the electoral registry, and publication of referendum related propaganda--and cites Embassy personnel allegedly in preparing involved including ORA, Army Attache, PAO, and a USAID contractor. Venezuelans named as co-conspirators include Globovision President Alberto Federico Ravell and the heads of autonomous universities Central University of Venezuela, Andres Bello Catholic University, and Simon Bolivar University. ¶8. (SBU) Also, the editorial cartoon in the November 27 edition of pro-government daily "Vea" accuses the Ambassador of leading the opposition in Orange Revolution-style activities, such as disrupting food distribution, including school lunches. Pro-government media outlet Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias accused groups that it alleges are financed by the USG, such as Sumate and Leadership and Vision, of convoking a conference on the history of the Venezuelan student movement to indoctrinate current student leaders. According to the article, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany is the actual sponsor of the event. -------------- Carter Center Pushes Voting -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The Carter Center released an open letter signed by former President Carter and several former regional dignitaries urging Venezuelans "not to let the opportunity pass them by to express their opinion and influence the country's future path." The letter explained that constitutions are about "much more than a government" but rather "define the rules fundamental for the political game, and establish the design, character. . .and limits of state institutions' power." Contrary to Chavez' strategy, the dignitaries say the referendum "should not be seen as an evaluation of the actual government nor a popularity poll." -------------- Protest Violence Claims One -------------- CARACAS 00002245 003.2 OF 003 ¶10. (U) A November 26 clash during an anti-referendum protest in Valencia, Carabobo state left several injured and one Chavez supporter dead. There are conflicting reports as to how the victim died. The government claims he was viciously attacked by the opposition when he tried to go through the protest on his way to work. Opposition-oriented paper "El Universal," however, reports that he was shot after he and other pro-Chavez supporters had set an opponent's car on fire. While speaking to a "Yes" vote rally November 26, Vice President Rodriguez attributed the attack to part of the opposition's plans to destabilize the country and pledged to "act with the total force of the law " against the perpetrators. Five protesters have been arrested in conjunction with the shooting, according to El Universal. Separately, National Guard and Metropolitan Police used tear gas and rubber bullets on a group of students handing out "No" flyers in front Simon Bolivar University. No injuries have been reported. -------------- Prospects for Dueling Marches? -------------- ¶11. (U) During a call to a program on state television, Miranda State Governor Diosdado Cabello announced the "Yes" camp's final campaign rally would be held November 30 at Plaza Bolivar, one day earlier than previously announced and the same day and place planned for the "No" vote's rally. Opposition news station Globovision reports the opposition is still holding firm to their date. During a November 27 press conference, however, student leader Yon Goicochea said the students would instead rally in Plaza Bolivar November 29. DUDDY