VZCZCXRO8522
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHCV #1269/01 2732139
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 302139Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3762
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO DRL (SMOODY) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2029 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE
SUBJECT: STUDENT-LED HUNGER STRIKE BROADENS APPEAL; FOCUSES 
ON OAS HUMAN RIGHTS VISIT 
 
REF: A. CARACAS 01168 
     ¶B. CARACAS 00443 
 
CARACAS 00001269  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBIN D. MEYER 
REASON 1.4  (D) 
 
 ¶1.  (C)  Summary:  As of September 29, a student-led hunger 
strike entered its 7th day, expanding from an initial group 
of 33 protesters in front of the headquarters of the 
Organization of American States (OAS) in Caracas to upwards 
of 160 students, unionists, journalists, and prisoners in 
several cities across the country.  The hunger strike began 
on September 24 as a protest against the August 23 arrest of 
student activist Julio Rivas.  Rivas was released pending 
trial on September 28, but the protest has continued and is 
now focused primarily on demanding a visit by the 
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.  As of mid-day 
September 30, as the protesters' health weakened, rumors 
circulated that the OAS was close to reaching an agreement 
with the protesters to end the hunger strike.  Several of the 
students have quietly approached the Embassy inquiring about 
the possibility of meeting with U.S. officials in Washington. 
 End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Hunger Strike Broadens in Participation and Scope 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2.  (C)  The hunger strike began on September 24 with a small 
group of 33 university students protesting outside the 
Caracas headquarters of the OAS.  Initially the students were 
demonstrating against the August 23 arrest of 22-year old 
student activist Julio Cesar Rivas for alleged involvement in 
fomenting violence during an August 22 march against the 
criminalization of protest (ref A).  Rivas was charged with 
resisting authorities, unauthorized use of a firearm, and 
instigation of civil war. (Note: One Embassy source said that 
Rivas belonged to JUVA, a militant student group based in 
Valencia.  End Note.) 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Since the start of the hunger strike, however, 
other students, journalists, unionists, and prisoners have 
joined the hunger strike in Caracas and several other cities 
across the country.  Media estimates the number of hunger 
strikers nationwide at 100-150, with about 80 students in 
Caracas.  In addition to the release of Julio Rivas, the 
protesters have called for: 
 
-- The visit by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 
of the OAS to Venezuela to investigate the current human 
rights situation in the country.  (Note:  The Venezuelan 
government has denied previous requests by the Inter-American 
Commission to visit.  End Note.) 
 
-- A statement or acknowledgment by either national (or 
international) authorities that the political system in 
Venezuela is oriented towards the criminalization of 
expressions of dissent. 
 
-- A statement or acknowledgment by either national (or 
international) authorities that there are political prisoners 
and people persecuted in Venezuela. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Among the prominent figures who have joined the 
hunger strike are: 
 
-- Former Caracas Metropolitan Police Commissioners Lazaro 
Forero, Jose Rojas, and Ivan Simonovis, imprisoned for 
alleged homicide and assault against marchers during the 
April 2002 coup d'etat; 
 
-- Imprisoned journalists Leocenis Garcia and Jose Rojas; 
 
-- Imprisoned banker Eligio Cedeno (whose attorney is 
assisting Julio Rivas); and 
 
-- Several family members of imprisoned Caracas municipal 
employees (Ref A). 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Rivas Released, but Protests Continue 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  On September 28, the government released Rivas 
pending trial.  Rivas immediately joined the hunger strike 
 
CARACAS 00001269  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
and told reporters outside the OAS headquarters, "Today I am 
joining the hunger strike and calling on the OAS and the 
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) to come to 
Venezuela to achieve the freedom of all political 
prisoners... From here, the students and the mothers of 
Venezuela ask that the CIDH come to the country and verify 
the flagrant violations of the human rights of many 
Venezuelans, not just of the political prisoners, but also 
the political intolerance."  Rivas added, "Venezuelans aren't 
afraid and we are not going to give up until the totalitarian 
government of Hugo Chavez respects our human rights, and 
respects our constitutional rights as Venezuelans." 
 
¶6.  (C)  In response to Rivas' release and public statements, 
National Assembly Vice President Saul Ortega (PSUV) said that 
Rivas' release demonstrated that the courts functioned 
according to the law.  He also claimed that Rivas was not in 
fact a student and that "the rector said that this young man 
doesn't study at this university, but they continue lying and 
they have their media show."  Venezuelan Ambassador to the 
OAS Roy Chaderton told the press on September 29 that he 
doubted the students were even following through with the 
hunger strike:  "They lay there on the pavement, eating pork 
arrepas clandestinely, they give them juice and food to stay 
(strong) vigorous, but this doesn't impress me much." 
 
---------------------- 
End Rumored to be Near 
---------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  As of mid-day September 30, the local press was 
reporting that the OAS was close to an agreement with the 
hunger strikers to end their protest.  The agreement is 
rumored to involve the issuance of a public statement by the 
OAS. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
STUDENTS DISCREETLY INQUIRE ABOUT WASHINGTON MEETINGS 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶8.  (C)  Some of the students have discreetly approached 
Embassy officials and inquired about the possibility of 
meeting with U.S. officials in Washington.  Post has 
requested more information about the proposed visit. 
 
-------- 
Comment 
-------- 
 
¶9.  (C)  The hunger strike quickly gathered momentum over the 
past week, broadening its base of appeal from students to 
other aggrieved sectors.  The government's September 28 
decision to release Rivas may have been intended to defuse 
this momentum and deprive the protesters of a unifying 
symbol.  However, the success of the hunger strike in gaining 
the release of Rivas may have a galvanizing effect on the 
opposition.  That said, some observers think the public's 
interest in the strikers will quickly fade now that Rivas has 
been released. 
 
DUDDY