Cablegate: Venezuelan Election Update - Noon (Est)

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCV #3530/01 3371831
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031831Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7185

UNCLAS CARACAS 003530

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN ELECTION UPDATE - NOON (EST)

1. (SBU) Summary. Opposition candidate Manuel Rosales told
the media that he is concerned that voting delays are
occurring disproportionately in traditional opposition
strongholds. Rosales nevertheless said that voting was
occurring with "a certain degree of normality." A relaxed
President Chavez told the media that the election is
proceeding normally. In response to a question about North
Korea, Chavez suggested Venezuela wants good relations with
all countries, including the United States.

2. (SBU) CNE President Tibisay Lucena conceded to state TV
that many polling stations did not open at 6:00 a.m. as
scheduled, but stressed that 99.9 percent of polling stations
were functioning by mid-morning. Embassy's informal election
observers are gaining access to some polls and are being
politely turned away from others. They report long lines at
most polling stations, as well as some noticeable
irregularities. OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza
issued a December 2 appeal to Venezuelan voters to vote in
"peace and tranquillity" and urged the media to respect the
prohibition on broadcasting unofficial election returns. End
Summary.

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Manuel Rosales' Initial Concerns
--------------------------------

3. (U) After voting in Maracaibo at 10:15 a.m. local time,
opposition candidate Manuel Rosales told the media that his
campaign has concluded that electoral problems are occurring
more frequently in areas where the opposition has
traditionally done well. Rosales said that his campaign did
a quick study that showed that 36 percent of electoral
problems occurred in opposition strongholds, 20 percent in
areas where both Chavez and the opposition enjoy support, and
five percent in Chavez strongholds. Rosales also alleged
that his supporters in at least four states received printed
receipts showing "null" votes after trying to vote for
Rosales, and he urged the CNE to rectify these problems.
Rosales praised the military's efforts to provide security
and logistics for the elections and characterized voting so
far relatively normal. Rosales is slated to return to
Caracas the afternoon of December 3.

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Chavez' Comments
----------------

4. (U) After voting in Caracas at 11:45 a.m. local time, a
relaxed President Chavez told the media that he believes the
electoral process is proceeding normally. He urged the
opposition not to "shoot bullets without proof" and urged
them to accept the eventual electoral results. In response
to a question from a Japanese reporter about North Korea,
Chavez said Venezuela seeks cooperation with all countries,
and then added that he wants good relations with the United
States. He said he considered remarks by the "Assistant
Secretary" (Shannon) that Venezuela is a democracy is a "good

SIPDIS
sign." He also called the recent electoral results in
Nicaragua and Ecuador "good signs."

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CNE Line
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5. (U) CNE President Tibisay Lucena told state TV that while
many voting centers did not open at 6:00 am. as scheduled,
over 95 percent had opened by 9:00 a.m. and 99.9 percent were
functioning by mid-morning. Lucena suggested that "null"
votes are the result of voters who press the party name or
candidate's face, instead of the oval next to their preferred
candidate on the electronic ballot. Other members of the CNE
held a late morning press conference to reinforce the same
point.

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Embassy Election Observation
----------------------------

6. (SBU) Pairs of embassy informal observers are visiting
polling stations in Caracas and seven states. Ambassador and
Deskoff also drove to some Caracas polling stations in both
affluent and working class neighborhoods. Embassy observers
have gained access to inside polling stations in about 50
percent of the visits and have been turned away politely the
other 50 percent of the time. They report long lines at most
polling stations, including at polling stations in Chavez and
Rosales strongholds. Several embassy teams also confirm
opposition complaints of voters receiving "blank" printed
voting receipts.

7. (SBU) Some embassy election observers report that the
electronic voting machines are hooked up. a violation of CNE
norms. According to CNE rules, the machines are supposed to
produce a local voting tally ("acta") and then local
officials may hook them up to transmit these results to the
CNE tabulation center. Active duty military officers appear
to have the lead in providing security at polling stations,
although reservists, in some cases armed, are also playing a
prominent role at some polling stations. At least one
embassy election team has noticed that fingerprinting
machines are causing more delays in opposition areas than in
pro-Chavez areas.

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OAS SecGen Insulza's Press Release
----------------------------------

8. (U) OAS SecGen Insulza released a December 2 statement
urging all of Venezuela's political actors to "strictly
respect the electoral norms" of the presidential election.
He urged that the elections take place in "peace and
tranquillity" and Venezuelans to put aside their profound
differences. Insulza also urged that the media respect
electoral rules prohibiting the transmission of unofficial
electoral results to avoid "errors or provoking undesirable
reactions."

BROWNFIELD

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