US AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT ORCHESTRATED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001386

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL CO VE
SUBJECT: US AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT ORCHESTRATED
PROTESTS

REF: CARACAS 01353

CARACAS 00001386 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Counselor Robin D. Meyer
for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador was greeted with government
orchestrated resistance and/or protests during trips to the
western states of Zulia, Falcon, Merida and Trujillo. During
October 4-8 visits to Zulia, a pro-Government media blog
criticized the Ambassador's trip to the opposition controlled
oil-city of Maracaibo. In Falcon state, pro-Government
protesters called the Ambassador's visit to Coro "a
provocation." The Ambassador's October 26 visit to the
University of the Andes in Merida was blocked by anti-US
demonstrations, flag burning, and incendiary rhetoric,
orchestrated by pro-Chavez Merida Governor Marcos Diaz
Orellana. In Trujillo state, protesters delayed the opening
of an American Corner. The refusal of pro-Chavez Governors
and Mayors to meet with the Ambassador calls into question
the willingness of the Venezuelan Government (GBRV) to
normalize relations. End Summary.

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MARACAIBO: RHETORIC BEGINS
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2. (SBU) Following Ambassador Duddy's visit with opposition
Governor Perez in Maracaibo on October 8, commentator Carlo
Maglione, in the Chavista website Aporrea.org, questioned the
value of any diplomatic relations with the United States.
Maglione attributed U.S. interest in Zulia to a goal of
fomenting a secessionist movement to create a sparsely
populated, resource rich country out of Zulia and Colombia's
northern Santander and Guajira regions. Maglione concluded
that "the return of Ambassador Duddy has brought the return
of the CIA and military attaches to improve relationships
with sell-outs, lackeys and pawns."



3. (C) In Falcon state, the pro-Chavez Mayor of Coro,
Oswaldo Rodriguez Leon, cordially received the Ambassador on
October 8. (Note: The Mayor's office had originally agreed
to the meeting, but then, the night before, insisted that
Leon could only meet with the Ambassador if he had permission
from the Foreign Ministry first. The meeting was only
secured through a diplomatic note informing the Foreign
Ministry of this previously arranged meeting; and the Foreign
Ministry's subsequent approval. End note.) While the
courtesy call was cordial in nature and the Mayor expressed
his admiration for the United States, the encounter was also
photographed and videotaped by members of Leon's staff.
After the Ambassador's October 9 departure from the city,
approximately two dozen Chavistas in Coro protested the
Ambassador's visit calling it "a provocation." (Reftel)

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GOVERNOR ORCHESTRATED DEMONSTRATION AND BURNING OF US FLAGS
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4. (C) On October 26, during the Ambassador's visit to the
Andean state of Merida, pro-Chavez Governor Marcos Diaz
Orellana declined the Embassy's written request or subsequent
telephone calls regarding a courtesy call. The local
newspaper, Frontera, featured an article signed by
pro-government journalist Julio Carrillo, denouncing the
visit and calling the Ambassador "an enemy of the Venezuelan
people." The article asserted that, "This man comes
representing the government of the USA, a government that
exercises hegemonic influence, installs dictators, invades
poor countries and brainwashes Latin American militaries to
massacre their own people." The article called on
demonstrators to gather at the Bolivar Paza "to reject and
denounce the bad children of Venezuela who shield themselves
in the opposition and desire to bathe in the blood of the
country and give our resources to the U.S. empire."


5. (C) The Ambassador was warmly received by opposition
Merida Mayor Lester Rodriguez Herrera in an early morning
meeting, however approximately 200-300 demonstrators
prevented the Ambassador from attending a ceremony at the
University of the Andes (ULA) at which the Ambassador was
scheduled to be given an award. Protesters burned American
flags, denounced the U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation
Agreement, and shouted anti-American slogans. Media coverage
of the event show Merida Governor Marcos Diaz Orellana
encouraging protesters to denounce the US and holding a
burning US flag.

CARACAS 00001386 002.2 OF 002



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INAUGURATION OF AMERICAN CORNER BLOCKED BY PROTESTERS
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6. (C) A similar pattern of interference occurred during
the Ambassador's October 27 visit to Trujillo state, where
plans to inaugurate an American Corner had to be canceled
after approximately 50-60 pro-government protesters in the
town of Valera blocked access to the building where the
ceremony was scheduled to occur. Protesters carried
professionally produced banners against the US presence in
Colombia and shouted, "They shall not pass," and "Piti-Yankee
Out." Following RSO recommendations, the Ambassador return to
his nearby hotel. (Note: On October 28, the Ambassador
traveled to the American Corner in the early morning,
successfully inaugurating the center in a low-key ceremony
prior to his departure from the city. End Note.) As in
Merida, the pro-Chavez Governor of Trujillo, Hugo Cabezas
Bracamonte never answered the Embassy's written request for a
courtesy call. The pro-Chavez Mayor of Valera Temistocles
Cabezas, who had been invited to a dinner at the home of a
local university rector welcoming the Ambassador to Trujillo,
did not attend.


7. (C) Comment: The local government-orchestrated
demonstrations in these two regional capitals blocked two of
the Ambassador's appointments and again calls into question
the willingness of Venezuela to normalize our bilateral
relations. Despite the protests most local reporting on the
Ambassador's travels has been very positive. End Comment.



DUDDY