VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCV #0311 0721328
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131328Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2729
INFO RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC//INTD/CTD/CT WATCH//
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC//TIG//
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FORT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS CARACAS 000311 
 
STATE FOR INR/TIPOFF AND CA/VO/L/C 
FBI FOR INTD/CTS 
DHS FOR HQINT 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS KVPR PTER ASEC PINR CMGT VE
SUBJECT:  VISAS VIPER FEBRUARY 2009 ACTIVITY REPORT 
 
¶1.  The Acting DCM chaired the Caracas Visas Viper Committee meeting 
on February 25, 2009. Committee members submitted two names for the 
Visas Viper program. 
 
¶2.  Committee members agree that Lina Ron meets the Visas Viper 
criteria.  Her information is as follows: 
 
Name: Ron Pereira, Lina Ninette 
Alias: "Comandante Lina" 
DOB: September 23, 1959 
POB: Anaco, State of Anzoategui, Venezuela 
Venezuelan Cedula (Identity Card) Number: 5486235 
Father: Manuel Ron Chiva 
Third and current husband: Humberto Berroteran 
Number of brothers and sisters: 19 
 
Lina Ron has an existing P3B Lookout in Class with the following 
information: 
Name: Ron, Lina, DOB: 21-Jan-1963, POB: Venezuela 
Ref.Code: P3B Ref.Site: CRS, Ref. Date: 01-Mar-2005 
UID: DOSVOCRS000001267566001NC 
 
Lina Ron is the leader of a small, pro-government party, "Unidad 
Popular Venezuela" (UPV), which has threatened and targeted members 
of the independent media and opposition leaders with political 
violence.  In January 2009, Ron personally led her party's attack on 
an opposition left-wing party, "Bandera Roja" (BR).  Ron and UPV 
militants forcibly removed BR and opposition leaders from a downtown 
Caracas auditorium, where BR members were celebrating the 
anniversary of the party's founding.  Credible open source reporting 
and Ron's public statements and actions support her inclusion in the 
Visas Viper program. 
¶3.  Committee members agree that David Santana meets the Visas Viper 
criteria.  His information is as follows: 
 
Name: Santana Torres, David Valentin 
DOB: September 30, 1962 
POB: Venezuela 
Venezuelan Cedula (Identity Card) Number: V-7251960 
 
David Santana has an existing P2A1 Lookout in Class with the 
following information: 
Name: Santana Torres, David Valentin 
DOB: 30-SEP-1962 
POB: Venezuela 
Ref.Code P2A1, Ref.Site: CRS, Ref.Date: 10-FEB-2009 
UID: DOSVOCRS000002378730001NC 
GENDER:M, NATL:VENZ, Cat:1 
 
David Santana is the founder and leader of the "La Piedrita" 
collective, a small pro-government organization in eastern Caracas 
that frequently engages in domestic political violence.  During a 
recent newspaper interview, Santana claimed responsibility for tear 
gas bomb attacks and threats against members of the independent 
media, including the media conglomerate president Marcel Granier, 
the outspoken journalist Marta Colomina, and the independent cable 
station of Globovision.  Santana also claimed responsibility for 
attacks on opposition political parties such as Copei and the 
"Bandera Roja".  He said that "La Piedrita" was responsible for an 
attack on the Holy See mission to Venezuela as well.  Santana's 
public statements and violent actions provide credible evidence of 
his qualification for the Visas Viper program. 
 
¶4.  Visas Viper coordinator at post is Alyce Abdalla. Contact 
information is AbdallaAN@state.gov and 058-212-907-8254. 
 
CAULFIELD