Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS1765
2008-12-23 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CHAVEZ ORDERS THE EXPROPRIATION OF JEWISH-OWNED
how-toVZCZCXRO3738 PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHCV #1765 3581607 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231607Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2344 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001765
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR RJARPE
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JTAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV KIRF VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ ORDERS THE EXPROPRIATION OF JEWISH-OWNED
MALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001765
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR RJARPE
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JTAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV KIRF VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ ORDERS THE EXPROPRIATION OF JEWISH-OWNED
MALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On December 21, during the last "Alo, Presidente"
broadcast of 2008, President Chavez ordered the mayor of
Libertador Borough of Caracas Jorge Rodriguez to expropriate
a large commercial center in the final stages of
construction. In his latest tirade against the private
sector, Chavez reasoned the expropriation is warranted for
several unrelated reasons, ranging from traffic problems in
the area to the consumerism fomented by this type of mall.
Chavez stated the building should house a medical clinic,
university or school and did not mention compensation for the
owners of the construction site.
2. (SBU) Privately owned by a prominent Jewish family, the
Cohens, Sambil Construction had received permission to build
the center from the mayor's office now ordered to expropriate
the construction site. Approval for the construction of the
commercial center was granted by the administration of former
mayor and radical Chavista, Freddy Bernal. Cohen family
patriarch Salomon Cohen served for 2 years as an engineer
with the Ministry of Public Works in the 1950s. The
pro-government website apporea.org accuses him of being
pro-opposition and of using that position "to derive a small
fortune." The commercial center, located in the less
affluent La Candelaria section of central Caracas, was to
house approximately 273 local merchants, a restaurant center,
movie theaters and a convention center. Chavez did not refer
to the Cohen family or the small Venezuelan Jewish community
while ordering the expropriation.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Announced on the first day of Hanukkah, the ordered
expropriation deepens the sentiment among the Jewish
community that the Bolivarian revolution specifically targets
Jewish-owned enterprises. It further calls into question the
sanctity of private property in Venezuela, although Chavez
repeated that while he respects private property, all private
property must have a "social component." It also carries a
political risk, in that the commercial center was a source of
construction jobs and promised to offer retail jobs in a less
affluent area of Caracas.
CAULFIELD
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR RJARPE
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JTAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV KIRF VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ ORDERS THE EXPROPRIATION OF JEWISH-OWNED
MALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On December 21, during the last "Alo, Presidente"
broadcast of 2008, President Chavez ordered the mayor of
Libertador Borough of Caracas Jorge Rodriguez to expropriate
a large commercial center in the final stages of
construction. In his latest tirade against the private
sector, Chavez reasoned the expropriation is warranted for
several unrelated reasons, ranging from traffic problems in
the area to the consumerism fomented by this type of mall.
Chavez stated the building should house a medical clinic,
university or school and did not mention compensation for the
owners of the construction site.
2. (SBU) Privately owned by a prominent Jewish family, the
Cohens, Sambil Construction had received permission to build
the center from the mayor's office now ordered to expropriate
the construction site. Approval for the construction of the
commercial center was granted by the administration of former
mayor and radical Chavista, Freddy Bernal. Cohen family
patriarch Salomon Cohen served for 2 years as an engineer
with the Ministry of Public Works in the 1950s. The
pro-government website apporea.org accuses him of being
pro-opposition and of using that position "to derive a small
fortune." The commercial center, located in the less
affluent La Candelaria section of central Caracas, was to
house approximately 273 local merchants, a restaurant center,
movie theaters and a convention center. Chavez did not refer
to the Cohen family or the small Venezuelan Jewish community
while ordering the expropriation.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Announced on the first day of Hanukkah, the ordered
expropriation deepens the sentiment among the Jewish
community that the Bolivarian revolution specifically targets
Jewish-owned enterprises. It further calls into question the
sanctity of private property in Venezuela, although Chavez
repeated that while he respects private property, all private
property must have a "social component." It also carries a
political risk, in that the commercial center was a source of
construction jobs and promised to offer retail jobs in a less
affluent area of Caracas.
CAULFIELD