Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS599
2008-04-30 21:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP 2-D WANTS TO PUT BRAKES ON
how-toVZCZCXRO2599 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0599 1212117 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 302117Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1049 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000599
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP 2-D WANTS TO PUT BRAKES ON
CHAVEZ'S RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000599
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP 2-D WANTS TO PUT BRAKES ON
CHAVEZ'S RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) Prominent civil society leaders held a press
conference April 29 to launch the 2-D/Democracy and Liberty
Movement, a coalition that aims to curb President Chavez's
efforts to implement aspects of his failed constitutional
reform package. (Note: 2-D refers to the December 2 defeat
of the reforms. End Note.) The president and editor of "El
Nacional" Miguel Henrique Otero served as spokesperson for
the newly-created group. Otero criticized the Venezuelan
president for attempting to reintroduce controversial
measures of the reform, including efforts to politicize the
armed forces, reform the educational system, and limit
freedom of expression, despite their electoral defeat. He
also accused Chavez of acting on the "margins of the
constitution" and urged him to respect the will of Venezuelan
voters.
2. (SBU) The 2-D Movement claims to have no political
aspirations, but rather intends to raise public awareness
about Chavez's plans to radicalize his socialist project and
pressure the government to respect the results of the
referendum. It is a loose alliance of intellectuals,
students, union leaders, and civil society actors. Members
include political leader Pablo Medina, Maria Eugenia Borges,
the wife of retired General Uson (who is not allowed to
participate in political activities),and Rocio San Miguel of
the NGO Citizens for Security.
3. (C) COMMENT. This group is numerically insignificant but
boasts well-known opinion-makers, including Otero, which
could bring it a disproportionate amount of media attention
and potential influence. For instance, 2-D's launching event
received front page coverage on "El Nacional," rivaling news
about a power failure that affected half the country.
Overall, it appears the coalition intends to fill the
political vacuum that exists as a consequence of the
opposition's almost exclusive focus on state and local
elections in November. At the same time, some opposition
stalwarts are wary of a newspaper editor assuming such a
prominent political role. Rival opposition-oriented
newspaper "El Universal" gave the 2-D launching scant
attention. END COMMENT.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP 2-D WANTS TO PUT BRAKES ON
CHAVEZ'S RADICALIZATION EFFORTS
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) Prominent civil society leaders held a press
conference April 29 to launch the 2-D/Democracy and Liberty
Movement, a coalition that aims to curb President Chavez's
efforts to implement aspects of his failed constitutional
reform package. (Note: 2-D refers to the December 2 defeat
of the reforms. End Note.) The president and editor of "El
Nacional" Miguel Henrique Otero served as spokesperson for
the newly-created group. Otero criticized the Venezuelan
president for attempting to reintroduce controversial
measures of the reform, including efforts to politicize the
armed forces, reform the educational system, and limit
freedom of expression, despite their electoral defeat. He
also accused Chavez of acting on the "margins of the
constitution" and urged him to respect the will of Venezuelan
voters.
2. (SBU) The 2-D Movement claims to have no political
aspirations, but rather intends to raise public awareness
about Chavez's plans to radicalize his socialist project and
pressure the government to respect the results of the
referendum. It is a loose alliance of intellectuals,
students, union leaders, and civil society actors. Members
include political leader Pablo Medina, Maria Eugenia Borges,
the wife of retired General Uson (who is not allowed to
participate in political activities),and Rocio San Miguel of
the NGO Citizens for Security.
3. (C) COMMENT. This group is numerically insignificant but
boasts well-known opinion-makers, including Otero, which
could bring it a disproportionate amount of media attention
and potential influence. For instance, 2-D's launching event
received front page coverage on "El Nacional," rivaling news
about a power failure that affected half the country.
Overall, it appears the coalition intends to fill the
political vacuum that exists as a consequence of the
opposition's almost exclusive focus on state and local
elections in November. At the same time, some opposition
stalwarts are wary of a newspaper editor assuming such a
prominent political role. Rival opposition-oriented
newspaper "El Universal" gave the 2-D launching scant
attention. END COMMENT.
DUDDY