Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS663
2009-05-28 21:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

GBRV STEPS UP ATTACKS ON PRESS IN MAY

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5298
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCV #0663/01 1482119
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 282119Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3117
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 000663 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2029
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: GBRV STEPS UP ATTACKS ON PRESS IN MAY

REF: A. CARACAS 595

B. CARACAS 546 AND PREVIOUS

CARACAS 00000663 001.2 OF 003


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 03 CARACAS 000663

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2029
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: GBRV STEPS UP ATTACKS ON PRESS IN MAY

REF: A. CARACAS 595

B. CARACAS 546 AND PREVIOUS

CARACAS 00000663 001.2 OF 003


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


1. (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolvarian Republic
of Venezuela (GBRV) accelerated its attacks on independent
media outlets and journalists in May. President Chavez
threatened to close opposition-oriented cable news network
Globovision, and government officials raided the home of
Globovision President Guillermo Zuloaga, ostensibly to
investigate the origin of over twenty cars parked there.
Senior GBRV officials publicly threatened a well-known
Caracas journalist after he reported on the privileged
lifestyle of a pro-government mayor. Chavez and other senior
GBRV officials publicly rejected the UN and OAS Rapporteurs
for Press Freedom's recent criticism of the GBRV. A few
thousand Venezuelans marched in support of press freedom on
May 20 and May 27, but the political impact of both marches
was limited. Chavez's transfer of the media regulatory body
to his close confidant Diosdado Cabello portends further
efforts by thin-skinned GBRV officials to intimidate the
local media. End Summary.

--------------
ATTACKS ON THE RISE
--------------


2. (SBU) The media watchdog NGO "Espacio Publico" (Public
Space) released alarming statistics May 5 indicating that
during the first two months of 2009, 47 journalists were
either attacked or had their individual rights violated in
Venezuela. This figure represents 71% of all the attacks
registered in 2008 (66 victims). While presenting the data
to members of the press, Espacio Publico director Carlos
Correa referred to the spike in attacks as "very serious"
accusing President Chavez of "permitting the attacks, and
allowing impunity to function as a deterrent to filing
charges, which in turn leads to more attacks."

--------------
GLOBO HACKED; CHAVEZ THREATENS
--------------


3. (SBU) President Chavez threatened to close
opposition-oriented television news network Globovision
during the May 10 broadcast of his weekly "Alo, Presidente"

talk show (Ref A). Referring to Globovision's coverage of a
minor earthquake, President Chavez publicly accused the
private media of "inciting hate, even war," and warned them
"not to make a mistake because they are playing with fire."
The pre-text for Chavez's threat was based on Globovision's
May 4 broadcast of U.S. Geological Survey seismic data as
well as reporters assertions that GBRV authorities were
unavailable for comment. There are currently at least three
pending GBRV investigations against the network. The network
used the U.S. data after Venezuelan government sources could
not/did not immediately provide the information to reporters.



4. (C) Unidentified persons hacked into Globovision's
website May 6 by a group referring to themselves as "hackers
for liberty". The group of hackers posted an anti-Government
message on the network's website, which was restored to its
original content within hours of the cyber incident. The
message criticized the GBRV for censoring TV stations,
undermining democracy, and holding political prisoners. The
hackers also urged students to take to the streets in protest
against President Chavez. Some media pundits privately
speculate the hacking was done by government supporters in an
attempt to discredit Globovision.

--------------
HOME OF GLOBO PRESIDENT RAIDED
--------------


5. (SBU) Police officials from the Scientific, Criminal and
Criminology Investigative Police (Cicpc),and officials from
the Venezuelan Customs and Tax Administration Service
(Seniat) and the Institute for the Defense of People in the
Access to Goods and Services (Indepabis),jointly raided the
Caracas home of Globovision President Guillermo Zuloaga
during the evening of May 21. Media reports indicated that
in addition to being a private home, the residence is also
used as the administrative headquarters of Toyoclub, a Toyota
dealership also owned by Zuloaga. During the evening raid,

CARACAS 00000663 002.2 OF 003


the police seized more than 20 cars for further inspection.
Zuloaga told the media May 22 that the vehicles are all
legally owned and registered by either Globovision or his
Valencia based car dealership, insisting the raid is merely
another example of government harassment against the media.


6. (SBU) The raid occurred within hours of a harshly worded
May 21 statement issued by the NGO Human Rights Watch calling
on the GBRV to end its persecution of Globovision. During
the televised May 22 opening of a chapter of the Armed Forces
University in Barinas, President Chavez said, "Some house,
property of a filthy rich (individual),filled with luxury
cars, and they did not produce any documents. Go and defend
yourselves in court. If I have 40 cars, I should explain why
I have them." Chavez added, "And what does the bourgeoisie
say? Surprise, surprise! The owner of the house is also the
owner of a TV channel.. They say that Chavez is chasing them.
Impunity must end here!"

--------------
MAYOR THREATENS JOURNALIST
--------------


7. (SBU) The pro-government mayor of the Libertador borough
of Caracas, Jorge Rodriguez, threatened opposition oriented
journalist Nelson Bocaranda May 8 following publication of
Bocaranda's column reporting on the PSUV mayor's privileged
lifestyle. Bocaranda, who has previously published
investigative stories against members of Rodriguez's extended
family on corruption allegations, released the name of the
wealthy neighborhood where the Rodriguez's three children
take swimming classes. In reaction, Mayor Rodriguez filed
charges against Bocaranda stating, "This is personal... If
something happens to my children, there will be no sewer
where he (Bocaranda) can hide because I will look for and
find him."


8. (SBU) Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro announced May 11
that legal action would be taken against Bocaranda for
"starting a smear campaign against the family of Rodriguez."
He referred to the journalist as "An assassin with the pen."
Parroting Maduro, PSUV National Assembly Deputy Carlos
Escarra told reporters "We are going with everything we have
against Nelson Bocaranda. We will pursue him under the rocks
until he learns to respect the Venezuelan family." Former
mayor of the El Hatillo borough of Caracas, Alfredo Catalan,
and his brother Hector Catalan (who also have pressed charges
against Bocaranda) filed a request with the court to "Prevent
Bocaranda from leaving the country" prior to a hearing date
of June 8 for defamation of character.

--------------
UN/OAS CONCERNED; CHAVEZ REACTS
--------------


9. (SBU) The United Nations (UN) Rapporteur for Freedom of
Opinion and Expression, Frank La Rue, and the Special
Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of
American States' Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(IACHR),Catalina Botero, issued a joint statement May 22
expressing concern over comments by senior GBRV officials
against Globovision and other privately owned media outlets
in Venezuela. In particular, the joint press release warned
against the current "atmosphere of intimidation in which the
right to freedom of expression is seriously limited." The UN
and OAS rapporteurs called on the GBRV "to maintain in full
effect the right to freedom of expression established in
international instruments adopted by the State, and to
adequately protect international guarantees in the
proceedings taking place against privately owned media
outlets and in particular against Globovision."


10. (SBU) Local media reported May 24 that Chavez reacted
strongly to the international criticism by the OAS and the
UN. During President Chavez's weekend visit to Ecuador he
told reporters, "What's the OAS for?" Chavez further
suggested that South America should set up its own separate
arbiters of human rights saying, "enough already with their
imposing all this on us from the North." Local media also
gave prominent coverage of the May 23 reaction of Venezuela's
ambassador to the Organization of American States, Roy
Chaderton, who accused the Globovision TV network of "media
terrorism". Newspapers reported widely on Chaderton's claim
that foreign observers are passing judgment on Venezuela and
are beholden "to the interests of the private media."

--------------

CARACAS 00000663 003.2 OF 003


RCTV - BACK TO THE FUTURE
--------------


11. (SBU) The Director of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV),
Marcel Granier, filed suit before the Supreme Court of
Venezuela on May 22 requesting that the GBRV return
confiscated technical equipment, antennas, transmitters and
cameras, and reinstate the station's ability to broadcast on
the open airwaves. Currently the seized equipment is being
used by other pro-Government stations. Despite mass
demonstrations in 2007 in support of the network, the once
highly popular RCTV, was suspended from the free public
airwaves in 2007 following Chavez's refusal to renew its
broadcast license. RCTV is currently only able to broadcast
in Venezuela on closed cable networks to paid subscribers.
Relatively small street demonstrations in support of RCTV and
Globovision occurred in Caracas on both May 20 and May 27.

--------------
GBRV GEARS UP FOR FURTHER MEDIA SCRUTINY
--------------


12. (C) Chavez's May 15 decision to transfer authority of
the GBRVs media regulatory body (CONATEL) to the Department
of Public Works bodes poorly for media freedom in Venezuela.
The bureaucratic restructuring of Conatel places it squarely
under the authority of close Chavez confidant and cabinet
minister Diosdado Cabello. The new authority of Cabello, who
as recently as May 17 promised to end "radio's latifundio,"
is likely to further politicize any investigations against
any media outlets that are bold enough to criticize the
Government. The restructuring of Conatel's chain of command,
when coupled with the May 12 publication in the official
registry announcing the hiring of inspectors for future
investigations of radio and TV stations across the country,
clearly serve as ominous premonitions for the days ahead.

CAULFIELD