TFHA01: GBRV Continues Disinformation Regarding U.S. Aid To

UNCLAS CARACAS 000087 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID MOPS PREL PREF KPKO OAS HA VE SUBJECT: TFHA01: GBRV Continues Disinformation Regarding U.S. Aid To Haiti REF: 10 CARACAS 65; 10 CARACAS 51; 10 CARACAS 57 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During his January 24 television and radio broadcast, President Hugo Chavez claimed the "Yankees" aboard the hospital ship, USNS Comfort, were not treating patients because, "they will not work in the rubble, they will not go into the poor neighborhoods." Chavez also promoted an ALBA foreign ministers' meeting to coordinate aid to Haiti during his show. State run broadcaster VTV broadcast the charge by the Italian Civil Defense Chief that the United States was confusing military intervention with humanitarian aid. It also showed a video of CITGO preparing to send 120 tons of supplies from Miami. Media reported that a tanker belonging to the state oil company PDVSA that was carrying fuel for Haiti made port in the Dominican Republic on January 22. End Summary. USNS COMFORT ¶2. (SBU) During the January 24 "Alo Presidente" program, President Hugo Chavez called the arrival of the USNS COMFORT "cover" for the U.S. takeover of Haiti and demanded to visit the hospital ship. "I want to see, because you won't let TeleSur aboard," referring to the Venezuelan-sponsored regional news outlet for South America. Chavez accused the COMFORT of having few patients because the U.S. relief workers "won't work in the rubble." Chavez lauded Venezuelan/Cuban medical teams for their fearlessness in the wreckage and criticized the "gringos" for sitting at anchor in air conditioned comfort and waiting for patients to come for them. "How will patients get there?" asked Chavez, "show us the boat." ALBA TO THE RESCUE ¶3. (SBU) Chavez boasted about the Cuban/Venezuelan vaccination program and challenged President Obama to "send vaccines boy, send vaccines." U.S. servicemen were again characterized as invaders by Chavez when the Venezuelan leader suggested that instead of hand grenades and machine guns they should carry vaccines. Chavez also touted a meeting of ALBA foreign ministers and their relief plan to treat post-disaster epidemics, plant crops, rebuild schools and repair infrastructure for Haiti. He stressed that ALBA would protect Haitian culture from "the take over by gringo troops," and that "old and new empires" would have to get their "claws" out of Haiti. STATE TELEVISION AIMS LOW ¶4. State run broadcaster VTV and its official website carried an Italian television interview with Guido Bertolase, head of Italian Civil Defense, under the headline, Italy: U.S. Aid to Haiti Ineffective. Although the story includes the quote, "Americans tend to confuse military intervention with humanitarian aid," Bertolase actually calls aid efforts commendable, but was generally critical of the lack of coordination of all participating agencies. VTV prominently reported that on January 22, CITGO employees, in conjunction with the Simon Bolivar Foundation, had sent the first phase of a 120 ton shipment of tents, cots, blankets and radios to Port Au Prince from Miami. In fact, as of January 21, the GBRV had not even requested a landing time in Haiti. ¶5. (SBU) On January 25, VTV reported that the ALBA representatives approved a relief plan for Haiti that included the creation of a humanitarian fund for the island, but no dollar amount was indicated. Three Haitian power plants are to be provided fuel through PetroCaribe and the Alba Alimentos initiative is to help restore food production and distribution channels, although no budget or details were provided. CAULFIELD