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FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8879
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001068 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: RCTV PROTESTS CONTINUE, BRV CONTINUES PRESSURE 
 
REF: A. CARACAS 01055 
     ¶B. CARACAS 01054 
     ¶C. CARACAS 01016 
     ¶D. CARACAS 01014 
 
CARACAS 00001068  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: On May 31, students and other opposition 
groups continued protests over the closure of RCTV.  Chavez 
supporters have sought to intimidate and attack marchers, and 
at least one student may have died as a result of clashes. 
National Assembly Deputy and Chavista march organizer Dario 
Vivas announced a number of upcoming pro-BRV rallies, 
including a "megamarch" June 2.  The Attorney General's 
office summoned Globovision president Alberto Federico Ravell 
and anchor Leopoldo Castillo to answer questions regarding an 
allegation that the station and CNN showed footage advocating 
Chavez' assassination.  Popular Power Minister for Interior 
and Justice Pedro Carreno invited student leaders to an 
afternoon meeting May 31 to "coordinate security" for future 
marches.  Zulia Governor and opposition leader Manuel Rosales 
called on Chavez to hold a consultative referendum on RCTV's 
fate.  More opposition and student marches are scheduled for 
June 1.  End Summary. 
 
------------------- 
Day Six: Two Deaths 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Scattered, generally small, but enthusiastic 
student protests continued for the sixth straight day in 
Caracas and several other Venezuelan cities.  There are 
reports that a pro-RCTV student in Carabobo State was killed, 
but we do not have good information on the circumstances. 
Separately, an Andres Bello University student was killed in 
Caracas on May 31.  Minister Carreno quickly announced that 
her death may have been a criminal act and not related to the 
protests.  BRV officials claim they have already caught the 
culprits. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Carreno invited student protest leaders to a 
meeting the afternoon of May 31, he said, to coordinate 
security for future marches.  We have heard no official word 
as to whether the students will meet with Carreno.  Student 
leaders held a press conference and coordination meeting at a 
Caracas university instead. 
 
--------------- 
Rosales Reacts 
--------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Zulia Governor and opposition leader Manuel Rosales 
gave a May 30 press conference and called on the BRV to hold 
a referendum on RCTV's future.  He criticized President 
Chavez for his threat to call his followers in the streets 
and BRV intimidation of marchers.  He also demanded the 
release of the more than 200 protesters that were detained 
May 29.  He denounced Chavez' threat to close Globovision, 
saying that if he followed through, the Venezuelan leader 
might as well "throw the constitution into (Caracas') Guaire 
river."  In response to reporters' questions, Rosales said 
criticism is needed from more regional leftist parties, but 
noted that many of them have been fooled by Chavista 
propaganda.  Rosales' international relations adviser, 
Timoteo Zambrano, added that internal differences over how to 
view Venezuela have prevented many leftist parties from 
speaking out.  However, he noted that some prominent leftist, 
such as Spain's Felipe Gonzalez and Chile's Ricardo Lagos, 
and many center-right parties have criticized the RCTV 
decision. 
 
------------------ 
Chavistas Ramp Up 
------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The BRV and its supporters are beginning to respond 
to Chavez' May 29 call to "defend the revolution."  National 
Assembly deputy Dario Vivas announced a pro-BRV "megamarch" 
for June 2 and set an out-sized goal of two million 
participants.  Vivas said they will also organize "popular 
assemblies" throughout Caracas and instruct community 
councils to form "information networks" in their areas. 
Bolivarian university students and youth members of the 
Francisco Miranda Front held small pro-BRV rallies in 
Caracas' Plaza Venezuela, Sabana Grande, and Las Tres Gracias 
Plaza May 31 without incident.  A group of pro-Chavez 
students at the Central University of Venezuela staged a 
 
CARACAS 00001068  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
rally on campus calling for peace, debate, and compromise. 
Separately, pro-Chavez supporters are trying to intimidate 
pro-RCTV protesters.  A clash in Aragua state on May 30 
between BRV and RCTV supporters resulted in four injuries and 
six arrests.  There are also rumors that security forces and 
Chavez supporters are trying to infiltrate student protests 
in hopes of provoking clashes. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Minister Carreno held a brief press conference May 
31, perhaps in response to human rights' NGOs criticism of 
police treatment of demonstrators.  He said that only those 
caught committing violent acts had been arrested, not those 
protesting peacefully.  He also warned that protesters need 
permission to demonstrate or they could be considered to be 
operating "outside of the law."  He claimed faculty at the 
private universities were encouraging the protests, 
suggesting they are upset about Chavez' recent announcement 
that the BRV would open 24 new universities, jeopardizing the 
existing universities' revenue. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Judiciary acts against Opposition Personalities 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶7.  (U) The Attorney General summoned Globovision president 
Alberto Federico Ravell and popular talk show host Leopoldo 
Castillo to answer questions on June 6 and 7, respectively, 
in response to Minister of Popular Power for Communications 
William Lara's claims that Globovision was subliminally 
encouraging Chavez' assassination.  The charges stem from the 
pre-shutdown broadcast of a video clip featuring the salsa 
hit, "This is not over yet," with images of the 1981 
assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.  Lara suggested 
this juxtaposition amounted to an incitement to assassinate 
Chavez, and called for an investigation.  Also, the night of 
May 30, a team of 40 Metropolitan Police temporarily detained 
opposition march leader Oscar Perez for illegal use of an 
official vehicle.  Perez, a Miranda State legislator who has 
immunity from arrest, claimed he was blindfolded and beaten 
at the time of his arrest.  Meanwhile, most of the protesters 
arrested in connection with the May 29 demonstrations have 
reportedly been released pending trial. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  (C)  University students are reportedly planning a large 
demonstration June 1.  The march will be an important test of 
their staying power.  The two students' deaths, if found to 
be connected to ongoing events, and further arrests or deaths 
could re-energize the protests, which had appeared to be 
diminishing in strength (at least in Caracas).  Meanwhile, 
Chavez continues to rely on his traditional tools of official 
intimidation through the judicial system and his supporters' 
bullying.  The government-sponsored march on June 2 will be 
more a test of the BRV's well-funded political machinery than 
of its popular support. 
 
BROWNFIELD