Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS1738
2008-12-18 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST NEW TRIBES MISSION
how-toVZCZCXRO9800 PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHCV #1738 3531557 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181557Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2315 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001738
SIPDIS
DRL/IRF FOR ANNE BORST
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2028
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST NEW TRIBES MISSION
REF: 06 CARACAS 00484
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001738
SIPDIS
DRL/IRF FOR ANNE BORST
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2028
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST NEW TRIBES MISSION
REF: 06 CARACAS 00484
1. (SBU) The Supreme Court of Venezuela ruled November 4 that
the rights of the New Tribes Mission (NTM) had not been
violated when it was required in 2005 to remove its personnel
from all indigenous areas in the country. Over the past
three years the NTM had argued before the court that they had
been denied the constitutional right to freedom of expression
following a resolution issued by the Ministry of Interior and
Justice on November 14, 2005, giving NTM 90 days to remove
its personnel and abandon all missionary activities and
property in remote jungle areas. With the Supreme Court's
final ruling, NTM's long and costly legal battle to resume
work in indigenous areas is at an end. In its December 8,
2008, public statement the New Tribes Mission reluctantly
accepted the decision of the Court and announced the
organization would no longer attempt any further appeals of
the case.
2. (C) The NTM was granted permission in 1953 to operate
freely among indigenous tribes in Venezuela. Following an
October 12, 2005, accusation by President Chavez that the
group was spying on behalf of the USG, the Ministry of
Interior and Justice issued a resolution canceling NTM's
permission to work with indigenous communities. Although the
Venezuelan government never issued an expulsion order, the
NTM immediately complied with the resolution to withdraw from
native areas by February 12, 2006, abandoning approximately
25 houses and missionary projects deep within the jungle
interior. Following the November 2005 resolution, the
majority of NTM missionaries left the country voluntarily or
were reassigned to other domestic and international missions.
The majority of those who remained in the country resettled
in Bolivar State, near the town of Puerto Ordaz.
3. (C) NTM Venezuela Coordinator Tim Fyock told POLOFF that
the allegations contained in the court ruling that the use of
evangelism was a pretext for acculturation of the indigenous
groups are false. The NTM had argued that as a duly
registered religious organization in Venezuela, it enjoyed
freedom of religious expression rights, which were violated
by the ministerial resolution. Although not surprised by the
court's ruling, NTM is disappointed in the final legal blow
that effectively ends more than fifty years of ministry with
indigenous peoples. NTM over the past few years has been
engaged in an effort to train Venezuelan citizens to carry
its religious mission forward. The majority of NTM's members
are U.S. citizens. NTM is not seeking Embassy assistance and
asked that any USG public reaction be limited to previously
used language from the International Religious Freedom
Report. Post's public reaction to the verdict will be
limited to standard HRR and IRF annual reporting language.
CAULFIELD
SIPDIS
DRL/IRF FOR ANNE BORST
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2028
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST NEW TRIBES MISSION
REF: 06 CARACAS 00484
1. (SBU) The Supreme Court of Venezuela ruled November 4 that
the rights of the New Tribes Mission (NTM) had not been
violated when it was required in 2005 to remove its personnel
from all indigenous areas in the country. Over the past
three years the NTM had argued before the court that they had
been denied the constitutional right to freedom of expression
following a resolution issued by the Ministry of Interior and
Justice on November 14, 2005, giving NTM 90 days to remove
its personnel and abandon all missionary activities and
property in remote jungle areas. With the Supreme Court's
final ruling, NTM's long and costly legal battle to resume
work in indigenous areas is at an end. In its December 8,
2008, public statement the New Tribes Mission reluctantly
accepted the decision of the Court and announced the
organization would no longer attempt any further appeals of
the case.
2. (C) The NTM was granted permission in 1953 to operate
freely among indigenous tribes in Venezuela. Following an
October 12, 2005, accusation by President Chavez that the
group was spying on behalf of the USG, the Ministry of
Interior and Justice issued a resolution canceling NTM's
permission to work with indigenous communities. Although the
Venezuelan government never issued an expulsion order, the
NTM immediately complied with the resolution to withdraw from
native areas by February 12, 2006, abandoning approximately
25 houses and missionary projects deep within the jungle
interior. Following the November 2005 resolution, the
majority of NTM missionaries left the country voluntarily or
were reassigned to other domestic and international missions.
The majority of those who remained in the country resettled
in Bolivar State, near the town of Puerto Ordaz.
3. (C) NTM Venezuela Coordinator Tim Fyock told POLOFF that
the allegations contained in the court ruling that the use of
evangelism was a pretext for acculturation of the indigenous
groups are false. The NTM had argued that as a duly
registered religious organization in Venezuela, it enjoyed
freedom of religious expression rights, which were violated
by the ministerial resolution. Although not surprised by the
court's ruling, NTM is disappointed in the final legal blow
that effectively ends more than fifty years of ministry with
indigenous peoples. NTM over the past few years has been
engaged in an effort to train Venezuelan citizens to carry
its religious mission forward. The majority of NTM's members
are U.S. citizens. NTM is not seeking Embassy assistance and
asked that any USG public reaction be limited to previously
used language from the International Religious Freedom
Report. Post's public reaction to the verdict will be
limited to standard HRR and IRF annual reporting language.
CAULFIELD