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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001117 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 
TAGS: PGOV KDEMSOCI SCUL VE SOCI ASEC VE
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL PROTESTS CONTINUE, GLOBOVISION ON TRIAL 
 
CARACAS 00001117  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES 
FOR REASON 1.4 (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. Ten days after the closure of Radio Caracas 
Television (RCTV), university students continue to protest 
peacefully in support of the network and freedom of 
expression.  Thousands of university students marched June 6 
to the Attorney General's office, making it the largest 
pro-RCTV student-led march to date.  In response to the 
students' petition, the National Assembly (NA) is organizing 
a June 7 debate among students for and against RCTV's 
closure.  Separately, the director general of Globovision, 
Alberto Federico Ravell, appeared before the Attorney 
General's office to confront allegations that the network 
broadcast subliminal messages inciting viewers to assassinate 
President Chavez.  The BRV is sending pro-RCTV student 
leaders mixed messages.  While the NA and other BRV officials 
are making overtures of dialogue, Chavez continues to 
repudiate the ongoing demonstrations as U.S.-driven efforts 
to topple him. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Largest student-led demonstration 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Over 10,000 university students participated June 6, 
in the largest student-led demonstration in support of RCTV. 
Students and RCTV supporters marched from the Central 
University of Venezuela's (UCV's) campus to the Attorney 
General's office to deliver a document demanding that the 
state guarantee freedom of expression and respect university 
autonomy.  The gathering, originally scheduled for June 5, 
was postponed until a valid permit was issued.  University 
students from Carabobo, Aragua, and Zulia states planned to 
attend the demonstration, although the local media reports 
that the National Guard temporarily blocked university buses 
departing from Maracay and Valencia. 
 
¶3. (SBU) At the onset of the march, municipality officials 
and security forces prevented the protestes from marching. 
As has been the case in previou marches, the Chavista mayor 
of Libertador municpality, Freddy Bernal, alleged that the 
studentshad not requested a permit to march.  UCV 
adminisrators responded, noting that student leaders 
reuested a permit from Caracas Metropolitan mayor Jun 
Barreto.  After some negotiation and with heav police 
presence, the march ensued.  Attorney Geeral Isaias 
Rodriguez received the student's petiion and exchanged 
points of view before the media. 
 
---------------- 
The Great Debate 
---------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The National Assembly (NA) is organizing a June 7 
debate among students for and against RCTV's closure. 
Pro-RCTV protesters petitioned an open session with the NA 
June 1, a measure that was introduced formally by Podemos 
Deputy Ismael Garcia on June 5.  Cilia Flores, President of 
the NA, said she agreed to arrange a debate with students 
because it appears they "have cut ties with (opposition) 
political parties, and with violent sectors" that wish to 
destabilize Venezuela.  The format of the event, however, is 
not what student leaders had envisioned.  The NA recently 
approved a request by "Bolivarian" (read pro-government) 
students to present their case as well, turning the event 
into a student debate.  Some student leaders have objected, 
arguing that they wish to reply to the BRV's actions only. 
 
-------------------- 
Globovision on Trial 
-------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Separately, the director general of local all-news 
cable network Globovision, Alberto Federico Ravell, was 
summoned June 6 to a hearing at the Attorney General's office 
following accusations by Minister of Popular Power for 
Communications William Lara that Globovision aired a video 
clip that incited viewers to kill President Chavez.  Ravell 
addressed the media before and after his hearing, dismissing 
Lara's allegations and affirming that Globovision will not be 
cowed by BRV threats to close the station.  Popular 
Globovision talk show host Leopoldo Castillo is scheduled to 
appear before the same office June 7. 
 
---------------------------- 
Widespread protests continue 
 
CARACAS 00001117  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Peaceful student-led protests continue nationwide in 
support of RCTV and freedom of expression, most without 
incident. 
 
-- Caracas university students protested silently on the 
public rail system June 5.  Students placed tape over their 
mouths and carried signs that read "Metro ticket: 500 
bolivares, liberty: priceless" and "Please excuse the 
inconvenience, democracy under construction," among others. 
Occasionally, students peeled off the tape to answer 
questions about upcoming demonstrations and their routes. 
 
-- The National Guard reportedly repressed a peaceful June 5 
gathering of students outside Rafael Belloso University in 
Maracaibo.  The local press reports that between two and nine 
students were injured by rubber bullets, while dozens were 
affected by tear gas grenades.  Several arrests were made, 
although it is not clear how many were taken in. 
 
-- Students in Puerto Ordaz and Ciudad Guayana distributed 
approximately 3,000 flyers June 5 demanding that local 
authorities respect the rule of law and the right to protest. 
 
 
-- In Carabobo, student participated in inter-collegiate 
debates on freedom of expression and the student movement. 
 
-- Pro-RCTV supporters in Anzoategui marched to the 
Ombudsman's office and invited him to participate in upcoming 
student-led demonstrations. 
 
-- Students in Maracay delivered a document to the Archbishop 
of Valencia, Reinaldo del Prette, requesting that the church 
issue a statement on recent events in Venezuela. 
 
-- Several universities in Zulia state requested the local 
authorities release students arrested during previous 
demonstrations. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (C) The BRV is sending mixed messages to pro-RCTV student 
protesters.  On the one hand, the National Assembly's (NA's) 
willingness to meet with student leaders is a notably shift 
away the confrontational stance deputies expressed recently. 
Flores' tactic of denying pro-RCTV students a platform by 
turning the NA appearance into a debate with "Bolivarian" 
students is designed to cut into the pro-RCTV side's air time 
and create the misleading impression that students are evenly 
divided on the RCTV issue.  On the other hand, Chavez and 
others continue with their veiled exhortations to violence. 
Additionally, Chavez continues to discredit student protests 
as U.S.-sponsored effort to topple him. 
 
BROWNFIELD