CHAVISTA MILITANT ARRESTED FOR GLOBOVISION ATTACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001020

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2029
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVISTA MILITANT ARRESTED FOR GLOBOVISION ATTACK

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DARNALL STEUART,
FOR REASON 1.4(D)


1. (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela (GBRV) publicly announced August 4 that Chavista
militant Lina Ron had been arrested and would begin court
proceedings for her role in a highly-publicized tear gas
attack against the pro-opposition Globovision media outlet a
day prior. The attack was captured on video and visibly
showed Ron's involvement. President Chavez quickly condemned
the attack as going against his Bolivarian "revolution" and
promised justice. The GBRV's swift response to
incontrovertible proof of physical attack may suggest that
Chavez wants to distance himself from his more extremist
supporters. The judiciary's inherent politicization suggests
that they will likely only prosecute Ron to the extent that
the GBRV pushes the case. End Summary.

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RON CAUGHT RED-HANDED
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2. (SBU) Minister of the Interior Tarek El Aissami
announced August 4 that Lina Ron, who heads the militant
pro-Chavez Patriotic Union of Venezuela (UPV) group, had been
arrested for leading a tear gas attack -- which was filmed
and widely broadcast -- against the opposition-oriented
Globovision media outlet headquarters in Caracas the previous
day. Ron was transported that afternoon to military
intelligence (DIM) headquarters and El Aissami publicly
assured that she would be presented "within the next few
hours" before a Caracas court. In an emailed communique, Ron
argued that her group was "indignant" against Globovision's
"media psycho-terrorism" and that her actions were
"absolutely revolutionary, ethical, and moral (in)
repudiating the behavior of this channel."


3. (SBU) During an August 4 event celebrating the 72nd
anniversary of the Venezuelan National Guard, Chavez
condemned Ron's attack against Globovision which he called
"counter-revolutionary." He added that the attack gives
"oxygen" and "weapons" to his opponents and said it could not
be tolerated "as a revolutionary, nor (tolerated by) the
state, nor the government." Nevertheless, Chavez contended
that Ron "did not realize" the effects her act would have,
and he asserted that his government "is not a bearer of
violence. The oligarchy is a bearer of violence. We are
here to guarantee national peace, the peace of the republic,
and compliance with the Constitution and national laws. We
will not tolerate violent acts from anybody, opposition or
otherwise." Chavez added that "the owners of the media were
living in their mansions and repressing the people. Now we,
the military, are at the side of the people."

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COMMENT
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4. (C) Faced with indisputable video evidence of the
assault on the channel, Chavez appears to have felt compelled
to act against Ron. At the same time, Chavez may also have
felt compelled to distance himself from this radical group
because of his proposed new media crime law. End Comment.
DUDDY