ACCUSATIONS FLY, ARRESTS BEGIN, INVESTIGATIONS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001278 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL VE SUBJECT: ACCUSATIONS FLY, ARRESTS BEGIN, INVESTIGATIONS TO FOLLOW REF: A. CARACAS 1271 ¶B. 07 CARACAS 2351 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ FOR 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: As President Hugo Chavez accused businessmen, media outlets, opposition leaders, active duty and retired military of conspiring in a U.S. backed coup plot the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DIM) confirmed the arrest of four persons for "inciting rebellion." National Assembly (AN) President Cilia Flores announced on September 11 the formation of a special commission to investigate the coup conspiracy based on a video shown September 10 on a state television show. Flores accused Alberto Ravell and Miguel Otero, directors of Globovision TV and the El Nacional newspaper respectively, of being involved in the conspiracy. Otero called the accusation a "smokescreen." Alert journalists at Globovision noticed the "damning" video tape of the military coup conspirators carried a date stamp of January 2005. An increasingly nervous Chavez is likely to use the coup plot as a multipurpose tool against opponents as well as a diversion for the November elections. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) During two nationally televised addresses on September 11, BRV President Hugo Chavez repeated the accusation that the pitiyanquis of Venezuela were planning a coup and his assassination at the behest of the "empire." Chavez boasted that he was prepared and suspects had already been arrested. Defense Minister Gustavo Rangel Briceno explained at a September 12 press conference that National Guard MGEN Wilfredo Barroso, MAJ Labarca Soto, LTC Caceres Arismendi and technical MAJ Brito Lombardo were being questioned by the DIM regarding a violation of Article 148, inciting rebellion. Briceno predicted that the two other flag officers recorded on the video tape would soon turn themselves in for questioning. Army General Alejandro Tineo Pena of the Maracay garrison reported that military police were investigating units mentioned in the video tape. ¶3. (SBU) A thirteen-member special commission of the Venezuelan congress announced by Cilia Flores on September 11th received testimony on September 12 from Chavista talk show host Mario Silva regarding a video tape aired on his program "La Hojilla" (Ref A). Flores asserted that the men on the video were coup plotters from 2002 and that El Nacional and Globovision were "manipulating the news and advancing a terrorist campaign." The commission is reportedly expected to have a preliminary report ready as early as September 16. ¶4. (SBU) Miguel Otero, director of El Nacional and member of the 2-D civil society movement denied any participation in an assassination plot, countering that officials of the BRV are "terrorized" over what is coming out of the Antonini suitcase trial in Miami (Ref B). Sharp-eyed journalists at Globovision noticed that the video clip that Silva had presented as evidence was 44 months old. Luis Planas of the center-left COPEI party called on Chavez to "end the circus," noting that Chavez had publicly reported 29 coup or assassination plots without a single conviction. Un Nuevo Tiempo leader and Zulia state governor Manuel Rosales also held a September 12 press conference to denounce the BRV conspiracy "show." ¶5. (C) Comment: Chavez has historically sought out external enemies (U.S., Spain, Colombia) when trying to deflect criticism and energize his base. The multitude and variety of challenges: inflation, crime, food shortages, blackouts, renegade PSUV members, TSA warnings, drug kingpin listings, the Antonini trial, INCSR de-certification and upcoming elections are all taking a toll on the BRV. Alledging a U.S.-backed right-wing coup and assassination plot helps Chavez cover his policy failures. Moreover, conspiracy charges can be leveled at anyone with the temerity not to toe the party line. End Comment. CAULFIELD