Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS486
2009-04-17 16:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

GBRV STEPS UP PRESSURE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF KDEM VE VT 
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PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171614Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2917
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000486 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF KDEM VE VT
SUBJECT: GBRV STEPS UP PRESSURE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

REF: A. CARACAS 443

B. CARACAS 309 AND PREVIOUS

CARACAS 00000486 001.3 OF 002


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000486

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF KDEM VE VT
SUBJECT: GBRV STEPS UP PRESSURE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

REF: A. CARACAS 443

B. CARACAS 309 AND PREVIOUS

CARACAS 00000486 001.3 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary: The Venezuelan Catholic Conference of
Bishops (CEV) issued a highly critical April 6 communique
warning that Venezuela's democratic system is "at risk of
collapse". In response, President Chavez (using parallels
from liberation theology) insinuated on Easter Sunday in his
nationwide news column that the Catholic Church was an
accomplice to the 2002 failed coup attempt. Following
Chavez's lead, Government of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela (GBRV) leaders called for the investigation of
Church officials for alleged complicity in events surrounding
the April 11, 2002 short-lived coup. The negative reaction
of the GBRV to any criticism by Church leaders, and the
recent burglary of CEV headquarters, are likely to further
fuel the ongoing tensions between Church and State in
Venezuela. End Summary.


--------------
Democracy - "At Risk for Collapse"
--------------


2. (SBU) The Venezuelan Catholic Conference of Bishops
(CEV) expressed its growing concern for Venezuela's
deteriorating human rights situation in a harshly worded
April 6 communique. The communique was issued on the heals
of the Church's public criticism of the April 3 harsh
sentencing of 11 police officers surrounding the events of
April 2002 (Ref A). During a radio interview immediately
following the politicized verdict, First Vice-President of
the CEV Monsignor Baltazar Porras referred to the 30-year
prison sentences received by defendants as "A sad and black
day for justice in Venezuela."


3. (SBU) The communique specifically warned that
Venezuela's democratic system is "at risk for collapse" due
to the concentration of power by President Chavez, increased
political polarization, politicization of the judiciary,
growing influence of narcotraffickers, increasing levels of
violence, and the recent surge in kidnappings and
assassinations.

--------------
Harsh Reaction to Criticism; CEV Robbed
--------------


4. (SBU) President Chavez insinuated Easter Sunday in his
nationwide news column that the Catholic Church was an
accomplice to the events surrounding the failed 2002 coup
attempt. Chavez wrote, "On February 17, 1980, (then
Salvadoran Archbishop) Romero said that a church that does
not unite with the poor to denounce the injustices committed
against them, is not a true church of Jesus Christ. These
words define exactly what is occurring in the hierarchy of
the Venezuelan (Catholic) Church, which has once again joined
the powerful and those who shot and killed our people."
Chavez, who frequently refers to Jesus Christ as the "first
socialist," has previously attacked the Church on numerous
occasions. (Reftels) April 13 Pro-Chavez Governor of Aragua,
Rafael Isea, called for the investigation of Church leaders
for alleged complicity in events surrounding the April 11,
2002 failed coup attempt. Note: The trial of the 11 police
officers was held in Maracay, the capital of Aragua. Maracay
Bishop Rafael Conde had previously referred to the region as
"a seat of injustice." End Note.


5. (C) Also on April 13 the Caracas headquarters of the CEV
was robbed by unknown assailants. According to Embassy
contacts at the CEV, one laptop, two monitors, and a set of
building keys were stolen. In addition, the intruders
searched Church files and left the copier machine on. The
extent of the information gleaned from CEV headquarters by
the unknown assailants remains impossible to determine. In
addition, CEV officials are expressing private concern that
their offices are bugged.


6. (C) Comment: In the wake of Chavez's February 15
referendum victory, President Chavez is accelerating his
efforts to concentrate even more power in his hands and to
intimidate his critics. The credible Catholic Church remains
one of the few, independent institutions capable and willing

CARACAS 00000486 002.3 OF 002


to criticize the authoritarian direction of the Chavez
government, and therefore is likely to continue to be
targeted by the GBRV. Given the harsh reaction of the GBRV
to any criticism by Church leaders, coupled with this week's
burglary of CEV headquarters, Embassy anticipates tension
between Chavez and the Church will continue to escalate. In
his attempts to counter the influence of the Roman Catholic
Church, Chavez is trying to position his Bolivarian
revolution to supplant the Church as Venezuela's primary
moral authority. End Comment.

CAULFIELD