Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS542
2007-03-12 20:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
BRV RESPONDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO3038 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0542 0712049 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 122049Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8108 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000542
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: BRV RESPONDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000542
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: BRV RESPONDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) BRV officials reacted angrily to the Venezuela
section of the March 6 release of the Department's 2006 Human
Rights Report, but their response has been overshadowed by
other events. BRV Human Rights Ombudsman German Mundarain
said the USG lacked the "moral authority" to speak on human
rights, and accused the United States of being the "most
bellicose (country) in the world." Mundarain claimed the
purpose of the report was to "stigmatize" those countries
that disagree with the policies of the Bush admivstration.
He also said the report has the "same value as an ethics
manual written by Al Capone." Attorney General Isaias
Rodriguez`aid the report is "politicized" and that its sole
purpose is to discredit Venezuelan institutions and the
judicial system. The Ambassador responded March 9 to BRV
comments, saying that in the future he hopes the BRV "focuses
less on the messenger and more on the message."
2. (C) COMMENT: As in previous years, BRV officials
condemned the USG's human rights report in general terms but
did not refute specific observations made in the report. For
example, BRV officials did not contest the addition of 13
political prisoners in this year's report. It is possible
that the BRV's limited response to the report's release can
be attributed to the government's focus on other high-profile
events, including the aggressive attacks by BRV officials at
the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hearings in
Washington.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: BRV RESPONDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) BRV officials reacted angrily to the Venezuela
section of the March 6 release of the Department's 2006 Human
Rights Report, but their response has been overshadowed by
other events. BRV Human Rights Ombudsman German Mundarain
said the USG lacked the "moral authority" to speak on human
rights, and accused the United States of being the "most
bellicose (country) in the world." Mundarain claimed the
purpose of the report was to "stigmatize" those countries
that disagree with the policies of the Bush admivstration.
He also said the report has the "same value as an ethics
manual written by Al Capone." Attorney General Isaias
Rodriguez`aid the report is "politicized" and that its sole
purpose is to discredit Venezuelan institutions and the
judicial system. The Ambassador responded March 9 to BRV
comments, saying that in the future he hopes the BRV "focuses
less on the messenger and more on the message."
2. (C) COMMENT: As in previous years, BRV officials
condemned the USG's human rights report in general terms but
did not refute specific observations made in the report. For
example, BRV officials did not contest the addition of 13
political prisoners in this year's report. It is possible
that the BRV's limited response to the report's release can
be attributed to the government's focus on other high-profile
events, including the aggressive attacks by BRV officials at
the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hearings in
Washington.
BROWNFIELD