VENEZUELA NOMINATIONS FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000330

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SUBJECT: VENEZUELA NOMINATIONS FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

REF: STATE 12871


1. (U) Post identified a number of potential nominees for
the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of
Courage. Because of the abundance of deserving candidates,
post has decided to nominate two Venezuelan Women of Courage
for Washington's consideration. Both are working for the
social advancement of women and trying to preserve democratic
freedoms in the increasingly authoritarian Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela.


2. (U) Nominee: Daniela Bergami


3. (U) Title, Institution: General Manager of RCTV


4. (U) Date of Birth: July 12, 1955


5. (U) Contact Information: Ph: 58-212-401-2346; Mobile:
0416-622-3241; email Dbergami@hotmail.com


6. (SBU) Justification: Daniela Bergami, General Manager of
embattled RCTV, is leading the defense of free press in
Venezuela as President Chavez seeks to close down the
television station which she manages. Bergami has long been
a role model for successful professional women in an industry
dominated by men, but the government's assault on RCTV has
given her role and gender added prominence. Bergami has not
been intimidated by the Chavez government's vocal attacks on
her station. To the contrary, she has rallied the station's
management and its employees to continue their work and to
maintain their focus on objective and unflinching news
coverage, while leading a counter-campaign to generate
hemispheric support for the station and against the
government's crass and politicized assault against freedom of
the press in Venezuela.

In addition to her high-profile work at RCTV, Bergami has
participated in numerous conferences and seminars on women's
leadership and has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities
for women to reach their professional goals, including
promoting them from within. Bergami is a member of several
leadership organizations, including the American Institute of
Management Resources, the International Women's Forum and the
American Society for Quality Control.

Daniela Bergami graduated from the Central University of
Venezuela with a degree in industrial psychology. She has
been the General Manager of Venezuela's leading television
stations, Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) since 2000, and has
worked for the station for nearly 20 years.


7. (U) Nominee: Monica Fernandez


8. (U) Title, Institution: Founder and Executive Director
of Justice NGO Foro Penal


9. (U) Date of Birth: July 2, 1972


10. (U) Contact Information: Phone: 0414-027-6582; email
monifersan@hotmail.com


11. (SBU) Justification: Monica Fernandez is the founder
and executive director of justice NGO Foro Penal. Foro Penal
is committed to providing proof of the deterioration of the
rule of law in Venezuela.

Foro Penal, with Fernandez serving as one of its most vocal
and visible spokespersons, has released reports scathingly
critical of the Venezuelan justice system's increasing
politicization. Fernandez has publicly alleged that the
judicial and prosecutorial authorities in Venezuela have
progressively undermined the law since the events of April

2002.

Fernandez is an outspoken critic of the government during a
time when the current regime is increasingly hostile to even
its more muted critics, much less critics as virulent as
Fernandez. What magnifies Fernandez's courage in this
environment is that she maintains her principled position
even in the face of legal charges against her very person.

On April 11, 2002, then a Caracas criminal court judge,
Fernandez ordered then-Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez
Chacin confined to his home on charges based on the
allegation that he was no longer a minister following
President Chavez's alleged resignation. She ordered
Rodriguez freed the next day, when it appeared that Chavez
had not resigned. Over two years later, the government
opened a criminal case against Fernandez. Although Fernandez

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had eventually ordered the then-minister's release, the
Fourth Appeals Court of Caracas ruled that Fernandez had
committed an "inexcusable error." Fernandez contends that
the ruling was made as a pretext for her firing. Fernandez
resigned rather than face termination. Monica Fernandez
continues to face criminal charges stemming from this
incident.

Chavez's usurpation of the judicial powers and the increasing
repression of freedom of expression under his rule create an
environment in which public criticism of the government often
results in anything from harassment to incarceration.
Moreover, Chavez often uses the judicial system to "legally"
prolong the agony of his critics and/or political opponents.
Monica Fernandez, sitting underneath the hanging sword of
Damocles otherwise known as the Venezuelan judicial system,
chooses not to sit at all. Rather, she stands up in the face
of adversity, she stands up in the face of baseless charges
pending against her, she stands up for what she believes, and
continues to courageously stand for an honorable, efficient,
and fair system of justice in Venezuela.


12. (U) Embassy Caracas's officer responsible for women's
issues is Poloff Ms. Veronica Torres; phone: 58-212-907-8052;
e-mail: TorresV@state.gov.

BROWNFIELD