INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WORKING QUIETLY TO STOP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000583 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2024 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR PREF VE SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WORKING QUIETLY TO STOP NGO LAW REF: A. CARACAS 561 ¶B. CARACAS 471 CARACAS 00000583 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The international diplomatic community is quietly questioning the Venezuelan government about the proposed law restricting international financing of NGOs. Several European Union (EU) ambassadors are not convinced that the law will pass, at least not in its most aggressive form. Nor do they believe that publicly confronting Chavez on the bill would be a successful strategy to deter it. The Finnish Ambassador, who has discussed the bill with National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Roy Daza, suggested to the Charge May 7 that the National Assembly may not pass the bill, but could use it to intimidate NGOs into self-censorship. While the National Assembly may be putting the NGO law on a slower track, the Chavez administration will ultimately dictate to the National Assembly whatever law it wants. End Summary. -------------- European Ambassadors Speaking Softly -------------- ¶2. (C) During the May 7 Europe Day celebration in Caracas, EU member state ambassadors expressed some concern to the Charge about the proposed law limiting NGO activities (Ref B),but underscored their reluctance to openly criticize the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) (Ref A). The Belgian Ambassador said that he is concerned about the law and Venezuela's anti-democratic behavior, and said the EU Mission was taking the lead in opening a dialogue with the National Assembly members on the negative impact of the bill if passed. The Spanish Ambassador dismissed the legislation as being a domestic issue outside of the purview of the international community. He also emphasized Spain's commercial and citizen services interests in Venezuela, and asserted that many Venezuelan NGOs are "political." When pressed by the Charge, he agreed to further study the law and said he might be willing to quietly note his interest to the National Assembly. The Portuguese Ambassador claimed that he had not yet seen the text of the law, but also said he might raise it discreetly with the National Assembly. ¶3. (C) The Finnish Ambassador told the Charge that he has discussed the bill with Roy Daza, Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee. The Finnish Ambassador said he does not think that the National Assembly considers this bill a high priority and suggested that the discussion of the law may be only intended to intimidate NGOs into self-censorship. ¶4. (C) At a May 8 human rights meeting for Caracas-based diplomats hosted by the Canadian Embassy, the European Commission representative told NGO representatives that "NGO laws exist in many countries throughout the world; there is nothing unique about the Venezuelan draft law". Meanwhile, Roy Daza gave an interview to the El Universal newspaper on May 6 emphasizing the importance of the law as a mechanism to control the activities of NGOs in Venezuela. "Every other sector of the society is controlled," he said, "why shouldn't NGOs be controlled too?". -------------- A Slower Track? -------------- ¶5. (C) Podemos National Assembly Deputy Juan Jose Molina told Poloffs May 7 that the bill may have been placed on a slower track. He noted that Foreign Affairs Committee is parceling out sections of the proposed law from other legislators to comment. During his recent press interview, Roy Daza said his committee intends to revise the draft International Cooperation Law in coordination with other legislators and after seeking public comment. Molina told Poloffs that he expected the National Assembly to approve some version this year that will allow the GBRV to target specific NGOs that criticize the GBRV. ¶6. (C) Comment. The executive branch, and not Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Roy Daza, is likely to determine the final language and timing of passage of the NGO law. While genuinely concerned about the implications of the NGO law, EU missions both individually and collectively are unlikely to confront Chavez publicly on the draft bill. End Comment. CAULFIELD