ELECTION THEFT FOR DUMMIES, CHAPTER FIVE: ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 001349 SIPDIS DEPT FOR USOAS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/IAA DEPT FOR DRL STATE PASS USAID USAID FOR LAC -- CARDENAS, KITE AND BATLLE SOUTHCOM FOR FPA OSD FOR DASD JOHNSON AND VANESSA MITCHELL LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB NSC FOR GARCIA AND FISK E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV NU SUBJECT: ELECTION THEFT FOR DUMMIES, CHAPTER FIVE: ELECTION DAY PROCEDURES REF: MANAGUA 1188 AND PREVIOUS MANAGUA 00001349 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. On November 3, 2008, Nicaragua's largest circulation daily, "La Prensa," ran a page two article reporting on a document purporting to be instructions for Citizen Power Councils (CPC) militants regarding plans of Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party for the upcoming municipal elections on November 9. We were given a copy of this document on October 30 from a source within the Government of Nicaragua and who told us that this document was distributed during a recent CPC meeting in Managua. We have confirmed that the Jamileth Gradiz mentioned, and identified as a CPC leader, is employed in the Civil Registry Office of Managua City. (NOTE: Between October 30 and November 3 Embassy offices were given identical information, including copies of similar documents, from four separate sources. END NOTE.) This document includes very explicit operational plans and tactics designed to improve the FLSN's chances of victory, including surreptitious voiding of opposition ballots and instructions on how to vote more than once. We are unable to definitely confirm this document's authenticity, but if it is real, it is a remarkably candid demonstration of the FSLN's commitment to victory at all costs. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) BEGIN TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT. This Seminar, financed by the campaign committee of the FSLN was coordinated and partially presented by the route chief of District IV, Lic. Jamileth Gradiz, who is also the director of the Civil Registry Office (in Managua). The following topics were discussed on how to act in order to win the elections, at any cost. ¶1. The electoral police (three for each center),one outside, one at the door and the last one inside the precinct, are on our side (FSLN) and were chosen by Gobernacion (Interior Ministry) to do the following: if one of our supporters comes into the precinct smelling of alcohol, wearing a campaign shirt or hat with propaganda, they will let them in, and if there are arguments, fights or unruly behaviors, the police will intercede in our favor. ¶2. The voting precincts will open at 6:00 sharp in the morning, and will be closed at 5:00 in the afternoon, no matter what. This means that all our people would have already voted by 2:00 pm, and at closing time the ones that will be left without having voted will be the ones from the right, who are the lazy ones. ¶3. Inside the precinct, we have to do whatever it takes to nullify the Liberal votes. For example: don't put the secret code on the ballot, or strike a line through it or don't sign the ballot, etc. For this we count on the poll watchers as well as the ones from ALN, PRN and AC, who are our allies who have infiltrated into their parties. They will start small talk to distract the Liberal poll watchers so we can carry out the plan. We have be to firm in this. MANAGUA 00001349 002.2 OF 002 ¶4. There will be national and international observers. They will have CSE identification. One of our supporters will be among them, and will give us a signal (which will be provided later). To these infiltrators we will provide all the courtesies (they are our friends, you know),otherwise do not let them in. Tell them we are either busy, eating, helping voters or make up anything. Remember those people come only to pass the time. ¶5. The ones that can vote in another precinct do so. They have the right, but try not to have your finger stained so you can vote again in your precinct. If they stain your finger, ask them to do it "light" and hide it, so when they are not looking or when the Liberal poll watcher goes to eat, the other poll watchers can do it. Don't worry, they are allied and just remember that your cedula is not going to be marked. ¶6. When it's time to count the ballots, if we are losing, we have to wise up. When the recounting is being performed and they are off guard, scratch the ballots, tear them or spill ink on them. ¶7. There will be at least ten comrades from the CPC outside each precinct, ready to intervene at any given moment. END TRANSLATION TEXT OF FLYER. CALLAHAN