EU AND OTHERS CONCERNED OVER NGO LAW; FEW WILLING

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000561 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR PREF VE SUBJECT: EU AND OTHERS CONCERNED OVER NGO LAW; FEW WILLING TO CRITICIZE REF: CARACAS 471 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The local diplomatic community is concerned about the increasing authoritarianism of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV),including the draft law that would restrict NGO activities. Domestic economic concerns, reluctance to interfere in internal affairs, and a focus on business promotion limit the diplomatic community's enthusiasm for direct criticism of the GBRV's democracy record. The Canadian and Czech Ambassadors, however, plan on separately raising concerns about the NGO law with the President of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the National Assembly. End summary. ¶2. (C) European Commission PolCouns Aude Maio-Coliche told Poloff April 29 that the International Cooperation, or NGO, law (Reftel) as it appears to be drafted would violate European Union (EU) transparency regulations and potentially end EU funding of Venezuelan NGOs. Nonetheless, the EU has no plans to press the GBRV on democracy issues, Maio-Coliche said, noting that the economic crises in Europe has crowded out attention for human rights. At an April 29 monthly human rights meeting of concerned diplomats, the French representative said that their activities were limited to routine political reporting. ¶3. (C) Canadian Charge D'Affairs Virginie Levesque told Poloff April 27 that the Canadians are very concerned with GBRV actions following the February 15th referendum. The Canadian Ambassador plans to request a meeting with the President of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the National Assembly, Roy Daza. He may be joined by UNDP, Norwegian, and Finish representatives in this meeting, should it be granted. The Canadians also plan on raising their concerns with the Venezuela-Canada inter-parliamentary Friendship Group. Levesque said that the EU embassies in Venezuela are divided over how to handle democracy issues. EU member state embassies have agreed to let the Czech Ambassador, representing the EU Presidency, state their concerns with the proposed NGO law to Roy Daza after the Europe Day celebration on May 7. ¶4. (C) Comment: The proposed NGO law is one of a series of GBRV actions since the February 15th referendum that have raised concerns over human rights. Among Caracas's diplomatic community, the Canadian mission is the most active in raising democracy concerns privately with the GBRV. However, Venezuela has not filled its ambassadorial vacancy in Ottawa in almost three years. While members of the Western diplomatic community in Venezuela believe that democratic freedom is at risk, few, including almost all EU members, are willing to confront the GBRV at this time. CAULFIELD