Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS160
2009-02-06 18:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
STATE TV AIRS TELCON WITH POLOFF - ALLEGES PLOT
how-toVZCZCXRO5251 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHCV #0160 0371811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061811Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2558 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000160
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
HQSHOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2029
TAGS: PREL ASEC VE
SUBJECT: STATE TV AIRS TELCON WITH POLOFF - ALLEGES PLOT
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000160
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
HQSHOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2029
TAGS: PREL ASEC VE
SUBJECT: STATE TV AIRS TELCON WITH POLOFF - ALLEGES PLOT
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (U) Action message -- See Para 6.
2. (SBU) Venezolana de Television (VTV),the Government of
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (GBRV's) free-to-air
state TV station, aired on January 27 a January 9 telephone
conversation between the secretary of opposition activist
Enrique Mendoza and an Embassy political officer. Mendoza's
secretary was following up on a January 5 lunch meeting
between Mendoza and the Charge and PolCouns in which Mendoza
offered to forward a copy of a poll. Alberto Nolia, host of
the pro-government "Papers of Mandinga" political commentary
show, used the conversation to allege that Mendoza and other
opposition leaders had subordinated themselves to -- and are
plotting with -- the USG.
3. (SBU) VTV aired the entire, albeit brief, January 9
Spanish language conversation (with subtitled text) between
Mariana Barrios, the secretary of opposition activist and
former Miranda Governor Enrique Mendoza, and an Embassy
political officer. Barrios initiated the call and asked for
PolCouns by name. Upon learning that PolCouns was out of the
office, Barrio told Poloff that she wanted to pass a
"confidential envelope" to the Charge and PolCouns. (Note:
This was a public opinion poll that Mendoza had promised to
forward to the Charge). Poloff advised Barrios to drop off
the envelope with the local guards and mark it for the
attention of PolCouns. Barrios called shortly before the
Embassy was going to close, so Poloff also suggested she send
the envelope the next business day, January 12.
4. (SBU) "Papers of Mandinga" host Alberto Nolia tied the
conversation to an apocryphal Puerto Rico meeting between
some opposition leaders and the Charge. During an extended
monologue in which the names of the Charge and PolCouns
appear in the subtitles, Nolia stated the following:
-- "What the hell kind of confidential report is Enrique
Mendoza and the rest of the opposition passing to the U.S.
Embassy?"
-- "It's commonly known that Political Attaches are spies."
-- "They (the opposition) are prostitutes in the service of
the United States."
-- "They (the opposition) charge millions of dollars for
betraying their country."
-- "The regular anti-Chavista is a common Venezuelan, decent
and honorable who rejects with disgust that individuals like
(Globovision director) Ravell go meet with the Ambassador,
with the Charge d'Affaires to receive orders and money..."
In addition, Mario Silva, host of VTV's "The Razor" attack
show, sharply criticized the Charge February 3 for his
solidarity visit the previous day to the Caracas synagogue
that was attacked and vandalized during a January 30-31
nighttime intrusion. Silva argued that the Charge was
interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs.
5. (C) Comment: GBRV officials and state media outlets
frequently criticize the USG and USG officials, but the most
recent broadcast of an intercepted telephone conversation
with a political officer represents an escalation.
Venezuelan government media is not only violating the privacy
of the U.S. diplomatic mission, but deliberately
misconstruing and demonizing standard U.S. diplomatic
activities. In a tense local political climate, sharp
government criticism has frequently spurred pro-Chavez groups
to launch physical attacks on perceived "enemies," including
diplomatic missions, such as the Holy See Mission in Caracas.
Moreover, the GBRV broadcast a private telephone
conversation of the Colombian Consul General in Maracaibo to
justify expelling him in 2008. End Comment
6. (C) Action Request - Embassy recommends that the
Department raise with the Venezuelan Charge USG concerns
regarding state monitoring and state media broadcasting of
conversations with U.S. diplomats. Embassy also suggests
that the Department inform that Venezuelan Charge that
continued incendiary state media attacks on the U.S. Embassy
in Caracas are incompatible with normalization of relations.
Moreover, the incendiary rhetoric could inspire violence
against the Embassy or its personnel.
CAULFIELD
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
HQSHOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2029
TAGS: PREL ASEC VE
SUBJECT: STATE TV AIRS TELCON WITH POLOFF - ALLEGES PLOT
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (U) Action message -- See Para 6.
2. (SBU) Venezolana de Television (VTV),the Government of
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (GBRV's) free-to-air
state TV station, aired on January 27 a January 9 telephone
conversation between the secretary of opposition activist
Enrique Mendoza and an Embassy political officer. Mendoza's
secretary was following up on a January 5 lunch meeting
between Mendoza and the Charge and PolCouns in which Mendoza
offered to forward a copy of a poll. Alberto Nolia, host of
the pro-government "Papers of Mandinga" political commentary
show, used the conversation to allege that Mendoza and other
opposition leaders had subordinated themselves to -- and are
plotting with -- the USG.
3. (SBU) VTV aired the entire, albeit brief, January 9
Spanish language conversation (with subtitled text) between
Mariana Barrios, the secretary of opposition activist and
former Miranda Governor Enrique Mendoza, and an Embassy
political officer. Barrios initiated the call and asked for
PolCouns by name. Upon learning that PolCouns was out of the
office, Barrio told Poloff that she wanted to pass a
"confidential envelope" to the Charge and PolCouns. (Note:
This was a public opinion poll that Mendoza had promised to
forward to the Charge). Poloff advised Barrios to drop off
the envelope with the local guards and mark it for the
attention of PolCouns. Barrios called shortly before the
Embassy was going to close, so Poloff also suggested she send
the envelope the next business day, January 12.
4. (SBU) "Papers of Mandinga" host Alberto Nolia tied the
conversation to an apocryphal Puerto Rico meeting between
some opposition leaders and the Charge. During an extended
monologue in which the names of the Charge and PolCouns
appear in the subtitles, Nolia stated the following:
-- "What the hell kind of confidential report is Enrique
Mendoza and the rest of the opposition passing to the U.S.
Embassy?"
-- "It's commonly known that Political Attaches are spies."
-- "They (the opposition) are prostitutes in the service of
the United States."
-- "They (the opposition) charge millions of dollars for
betraying their country."
-- "The regular anti-Chavista is a common Venezuelan, decent
and honorable who rejects with disgust that individuals like
(Globovision director) Ravell go meet with the Ambassador,
with the Charge d'Affaires to receive orders and money..."
In addition, Mario Silva, host of VTV's "The Razor" attack
show, sharply criticized the Charge February 3 for his
solidarity visit the previous day to the Caracas synagogue
that was attacked and vandalized during a January 30-31
nighttime intrusion. Silva argued that the Charge was
interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs.
5. (C) Comment: GBRV officials and state media outlets
frequently criticize the USG and USG officials, but the most
recent broadcast of an intercepted telephone conversation
with a political officer represents an escalation.
Venezuelan government media is not only violating the privacy
of the U.S. diplomatic mission, but deliberately
misconstruing and demonizing standard U.S. diplomatic
activities. In a tense local political climate, sharp
government criticism has frequently spurred pro-Chavez groups
to launch physical attacks on perceived "enemies," including
diplomatic missions, such as the Holy See Mission in Caracas.
Moreover, the GBRV broadcast a private telephone
conversation of the Colombian Consul General in Maracaibo to
justify expelling him in 2008. End Comment
6. (C) Action Request - Embassy recommends that the
Department raise with the Venezuelan Charge USG concerns
regarding state monitoring and state media broadcasting of
conversations with U.S. diplomats. Embassy also suggests
that the Department inform that Venezuelan Charge that
continued incendiary state media attacks on the U.S. Embassy
in Caracas are incompatible with normalization of relations.
Moreover, the incendiary rhetoric could inspire violence
against the Embassy or its personnel.
CAULFIELD