CHAVEZ THREATENS TO EXPEL CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000044 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2034 TAGS: PREL PGOV VE SUBJECT: CHAVEZ THREATENS TO EXPEL CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES CARACAS 00000044 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) Summary. President Chavez threatened to expel Charge' Caulfield if the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) can prove that he met recently with opposition leaders in Puerto Rico. State media outlets accuse the Charge' of meeting with Globovision Director Ravell and leaders from three opposition parties to plan a strategy to defeat Chavez's proposed amendment to eliminate term limits. The Charge' attended a wedding in Puerto Rico and did not meet with any Venezuelans there; Embassy spokesperson stated that fact in response to press queries. While attending the wedding reception, Charge' was tipped off by USG officials that he was possibly under surveillance in San Juan by Venezuelan agents. Chavez is once again trying to frame an upcoming domestic elections as a contest between the United States ("empire") together with its Venezuelan allies ("pitiyanquis") against his Bolivarian revolution. While Chavez's traditional electoral strategy may be wearing thin, many pundits believe Chavez continues to use the United States as a foil to rally his base. End Summary. -------------- Another "American Plot" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On January 10, President Chavez accused opposition activists of meeting in Puerto Rico to prepare a strategy to oppose his proposed referendum to eliminate term limits for all elected offices. He also said that an American official may have participated in the meetings. "I do not yet have the proof, but if that's the case, I would expel him from the country." (Note: President Chavez ordered the expulsion of Ambassador Duddy on September 11, 2008, in solidarity with the Bolivian government's decision to expel the U.S. Ambassador there. End Note). Chavez made this most recent threat during a January 10 broadcast to highlight the transfer of technical control of the Simon Bolivar satellite from China to Venezuela. ¶3. (SBU) State media outlets, including VTV, Avila TV, and the newspaper VEA, subsequently published more specific accusations. An obviously tipped-off Avila TV crew approached Primero Justicia leader Julio Borges, COPEI leader Luis Ignacio Planas, and Un Nuevo Tiempo leader Omar Barboza, and Globovision director Alberto Federico Ravell while they were temporarily detained in immigration secondary after returning to Maiquetia Airport from Puerto Rico the night of January 10. The opposition politicians declined to answer questions, but when an Avila TV journalist accused Ravell of being a paid propagandist, Ravell threatened the journalist on camera. President Chavez, in his Alo Presidente broadcast on January 11 claimed that Ravell was angry because the reporter had exposed the fact that Ravell and his companions had met with the USG, and that the USG was behind the opposition's efforts to rally voters against the referendum. ¶4. (SBU) State media are highlighting the "angry Ravell" footage and what they claim is an e-mail from Ravell to opposition leaders inviting them to meet with "major league" American advisors to develop a three-million-dollar campaign against the indefinite re-election amendment. The text notes that "our friend from the embassy will leave a day earlier." Charge' had seen Ravell the night before at a social function and both mentioned their upcoming visits to Puerto Rico, but made no plans to get together. State media reporting specifically states that the meeting was set up to include Charge' Caulfield. ¶5. (SBU) During his January 11 "Alo, Presidente," broadcast, Chavez spoke at length about opposition efforts to prevent passage of an amendment to allow indefinite reelection for all elected officials. He also said the government is investigating the possible participation of an American diplomat in the Puerto Rico opposition meeting. During his January 12 press conference, Information Minister Jesse Chacon noted that the Charge' departed Maiquetia airport on January 7, one day before opposition leaders. He added that the proposed amendment is an issue for Venezuelans alone and that U.S. officials should abstain from interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs. CARACAS 00000044 002.2 OF 002 -------------- The Back Story -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Charge attended a wedding in Puerto Rico and did not meet with any Venezuelans there. In response to press queries, Embassy spokesperson stressed that the Charge's visit to Puerto Rico was a private one and had nothing to do with Venezuela. PJ leader Julio Borges told the local media that the opposition politicians met in Puerto Rico with Chilean advisors who had experience running a successful campaign against a referendum on indefinite reelection there. Ravell told PAS Counselor that the ostensible e-mail invitation running in state media is apocryphal ¶7. (SBU) No one from the Venezuelan government contacted the Embassy to ask about the Charge's private trip to Puerto Rico. Upon return to Venezuela, Charge' called Foreign Minister Maduro's Chief of Staff Temir Porras, but was only able to speak to an assistant. Charge' told the assistant that allegation of a clandestine meeting in Puerto Rico was a lie and noted that Charge' routinely met with government and opposition leaders in Venezuela and did not need to do so in Puerto Rico. ¶8. (SBU) After hyping the story for three days and threatening the Charge' with expulsion, Chavez made no mention of Charge' during his seven-and-one-half hour January 13 address to the National Assembly. Chavez did issue a general admonishment to the diplomatic corps to stay out of Venezuelan national affairs. He also repeatedly attacked the opposition and criticized the opposition leaders' ("the Fantastic Four") meeting in Puerto Rico. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (S) President Chavez is again trying to frame a domestic election as a contest between the United States (the "empire") and its Venezuelan allies, pitiyanquis, and his Bolivarian revolution. Chavista paranoia continues to run deep even when it is GBRV officials themselves who are concocting and alleging an American conspiracy. While pollsters tell us that Chavez's allegations of U.S. plots do not really resonate with most Venezuelans, others pundits insist that Chavez is still able to rally his base with such rhetoric. Chavez should already be aware, as a result of surveillance by his agents in San Juan, that the Charge's visit to that city was strictly personal. ¶10. (C) Chavez and other senior GBRV officials also appear to be trying to warn foreign diplomats and opposition politicians to stay clear of each other. Chavez is equating any opposition with treason. That opposition leaders feel compelled to strategize outside of Venezuela and that the GBRV advertises that it is monitoring their activities speaks to the creeping totalitarianism in Venezuela. CAULFIELD