GBRV DETAINS 11 PERSONS FOR ATTACK ON SYNAGOGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000184

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT FOR AID/OTI (RPORTER)
DEPT FOR DRL/SEAS (GRICKMAN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2029
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC VE IS
SUBJECT: GBRV DETAINS 11 PERSONS FOR ATTACK ON SYNAGOGUE

REF: A. CARACAS 00135

B. CARACAS 0070

C. CARACAS 0032

D. CARACAS 0020

CARACAS 00000184 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
REASON 1.4(D)


1. (C) Summary: Venezuelan authorities arrested eleven
persons over the February 7-8 weekend in response to the
January 31 Caracas synagogue attack (Ref A). Five officers
and a sub-inspector in the Caracas Metropolitan Police Force,
as well as a detective from Venezuela's national criminal
police (CICPC),are among the suspects arrested. In the wake
of international repudiation of the synagogue attack, the
Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has
softened its tone somewhat toward the Jewish community. In
announcing the arrests, President Chavez and other senior
GBRV officials suggested that the attack appears to have been
an "inside job." Prominent members of Venezuela's democratic
opposition and civil society have expressed an outpouring of
support for Venezuela's small and beleaguered Jewish
community. While the GBRV is now trying to show that it is
responsive, Jewish community leaders believe the GBRV's
anti-Israel/anti-Semitic rhetoric created a climate that led
to the synagogue attack. End Summary.

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GBRV ARRESTS 11 IN SYNAGOGUE ATTACK
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2. (SBU) The GBRV reportedly detained eleven persons during
the February 7-8 weekend for allegedly perpetrating the
January 31 attack on Caracas' oldest synagogue. Among the
suspects are Corporal Frank Luis Pinate, former bodyguard
Edgar Alexander Cordero, Francisco Jose Perez Diaz, Charlys
Angelo, and Jose Milla. In addition, a subinspector from the
motorized brigade, Luis Eduardo Castillo Guerrero, and CICPC
homicide detective Yadira Torres were detained. Among the
four civilians reportedly detained were Victor Eduardo
Escalona Lovera, Rafael Enrique, Harvey Enrique Colina
Mogollon, and Orlando Jose Perez Diaz. The GBRV is
reportedly seeking to arrest additional suspects. The 11
arrested are scheduled to be arraigned on February 9.

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GBRV DENIES INVOLVEMENT, ENSURES MORE SECURITY
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3. (C) Jewish community leaders from the Confederation of
Jewish Associations in Venezuela (CAIV) met February 4 with
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, Maduro's Chief of Staff
Temir Porras, Communications and Information Minister Chacon,
and Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Maximilian Arvelaez.
CAIV Director David Bassan told Emboffs February 10 that the
GBRV representatives appeared very concerned about growing
international protests during a "frank and hard" meeting.
The GBRV officials condemned the attack, pledged to
investigate, and promised more security for Jewish
institutions. Chacon followed up on February 9. Bassan said
the Jewish community leaders reviewed their concerns about
anti-Semitism in state media outlets and urged GBRV officials
to stop fostering an anti-Semitic climate in Venezuela. They
also said the GBRV should not try to drive a wedge between
the Venezuelan Jewish community and Israel. Chacon said he
instructed state media outlets to desist from anti-Semitic
attacks.


4. (SBU) In the wake of international condemnation of the
attack, President Chavez phoned CAIV President Abraham Levy
February 5 and promised to guarantee the safety of
Venezuela's Jewish community. While condemning the attack,
Chavez also suggested that it might have been an inside job,
and demanded that Jewish leaders publicly recant accusations
against his government. In a February 8 Venevision
interview, Chavez indicated that a former personal guard of
an unnamed rabbi might have been involved in the attack.
Chavez said, "This government had nothing to do with this
(attack). The GBRV is investigating and already has concrete
results... The leader of the group is a member of the police
and worked as the personal guard of a rabbi. I can say
nothing more as this is still under investigation."


5. (C) The local media reports that Edgar Alexander
Cordero, the former personal guard turned police officer, had

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previously worked for Rabbi Isaac Cohen for over four years.
During Justice and Interior Minister of Interior Tareck el
Aissami's February 9 press conference, el Aissami stressed
that the GBRV is responding quickly to the synagogue attack.
He also suggested that the synagogue's two local guards
deactivated an alarm system and electric wires on the
perimeter wall. Bassan confirmed that Venezuelan
investigators believe one of the two synagogue guards
conspired with Cordero to facilitate the attack on the
synagogue. Investigators are telling Jewish community
leaders that the suspects tried to cover up their robbery by
making it look like an anti-Semitic attack.

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JEWISH COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED BY SUPPORT
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6. (SBU) Hundreds of Venezuelans gathered in front of the
Mariperez Synagogue on February 5, where they held up their
national ID cards and sang the national anthem. Many of the
participants wore symbolic "Stars of David" and waved the
Venezuelan and Israeli flags. Persons attending a nearby
pro-Chavez rally reportedly shouted anti-Semitic slurs at
peaceful crowd, however. Many Venezuelan individuals and
organizations have also expressed their solidarity, sending
letters and issuing public communiques. The Venezuelan
Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned the attack in a
February 4 press conference. Numerous prominent Venezuelans
have also penned op-eds to repudiate growing anti-Semitism in
Venezuela. Jewish community leaders told Poloff they have
been heartened by the messages of support they have received
in the wake of the attack.


7. (C) Comment: President Chavez and other senior GBRV
officials are clearly responding to the wave of international
condemnation of the synagogue attack. While Chavez and
Foreign Minister Maduro condemned the attack on February 1,
they then implausibly suggested that Venezuela's opposition
may have been to blame. Since then, senior GBRV leaders have
met a couple of times with local Jewish community leaders to
stress that the government was not behind the attacks, and
Chavez and other ministers have tried to appear more
responsive in their public statements. Jewish community
leaders believe that regardless of the motive of the
intruders, the GBRV is at least indirectly responsible for
fostering a climate of anti-Semitism. They also believe that
some members of the GBRV may scale back their rhetoric for a
while, but will likely resume when they believe it is
politically convenient. Embassy will continue to stay in
close communication with Jewish community leaders. End
Comment.

CAULFIELD